A leading cause of knee pain is osteoarthritis. It is due to the wearing-down of the protective cartilage that prevents the bones in the knee from rubbing against each other. Without the cushion of protective cartilage, knee movement becomes painful.
Knee arthritis causes constant pain without proper treatment. Let’s talk about some of the most popular treatments available today for knee pain and how you can find out more about what can be done for you.
Lifestyle Changes to Relieve Pressure on the Knee
Knee arthritis pain may be exacerbated by a patient’s lifestyle. Lack of exercise, being overweight, and eating a high-fat/low-protein diet should all be addressed – and reversed – in order to alleviate pressure and inflammation in the knee joint.
Injection Therapy for Instant Pain Relief
Knee pain may be instantly relieved – and the relief can last for a matter of weeks to months – by receiving a corticosteroid injection in the knee. This treatment usually comprises a combination of a steroid and an anesthetic.
For even longer-lasting pain relief, viscosupplementation may be recommended. Your doctor will inject hyaluronic acid into the knee to provide a special lubrication to the joint.
PRP therapy is another type of biological injection therapy, and this involves harvesting plasma and platelets from a sample of the patient’s own blood. The concentrated platelets are then injected into the knee to utilize their natural healing power.
Physical Therapy
Doctors recommend exercise, even something as simple as walking for 30 minutes a day, to help relieve knee pain due to arthritis. That is why a comprehensive treatment plan for knee pain almost always includes physical therapy.
Regular sessions with a physical therapist (PT) will include stretching and strengthening exercises that can improve knee flexibility and range of motion. The therapist will explain how often to continue performing these exercises at home in order to keep the knee strong.
Physical therapists are trained in the use of many different modalities that can help relieve knee pain. Massage, temperature therapy, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation are just a few of the pain-relieving methods they regularly use. A physical therapist can also guide you on how to use compression wraps and assistive devices to help relieve symptoms and reduce pressure on your knee joints.
Joint Replacement Surgery
For patients with advanced-stage knee arthritis, conservative methods may no longer provide the desired relief from painful and debilitating symptoms. Orthopedic surgeons will then usually recommend joint replacement surgery, whereby they replace the damaged part of the joint with prosthetic parts in order to restore normal function and mobility of the knee.
Orthopedic Knee Specialists in Central Maryland
The surgeons at the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland are here to diagnose and treat knee pain in a way that works for you. Whether you have a sports injury or arthritis, we can find a treatment that helps you get your knee back and working properly – and without pain.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, call the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland today at (410) 644-1880 or (855) 4MD-BONE (463-2663), or fill out our online form to request an appointment now. We look forward to helping you get back to your active lifestyle once again!
