Knee pain can be persistent and bothersome. It hinders your mobility and affects your mood negatively. Good thing there are plenty of options in store for you to treat knee pain!
Here are some of the most popular non-surgical and surgical treatment options for knee pain:
Non-Surgical Options
Pain Medications
Managing knee pain usually starts with pain-relieving medications. Available over-the-counter and through prescriptions, pain relievers can reduce inflammation and block pain. While this is not a long-term solution, pain relievers can bring much-needed relief while you heal or pursue other treatment options.
Injections
Injection therapy is another great treatment for knee pain. The injections typically include steroids or anti-inflammatory agents that relieve symptoms for a few months at a time.
Steroid injections are a fast-acting treatment option that can be beneficial in thwarting pain episodes. Anti-inflammatory injections are typically a mix of hyaluronic acid, lubricants, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
This method has been gaining popularity in treating joint problems and sports injuries for quite some time. It involves injecting platelet-rich plasma from a patient’s blood into the affected area.
Platelets are a blood component that causes clotting and stimulates healing. PRP therapy causes temporary inflammation, thus triggering the body’s healing mechanisms to do their magic and heal the painful knee.
Knee Brace
Braces help support the knee by giving the knee structure. They also increase the space in the joint to decrease pressure on the cartilage. Choose a brace that is adjustable, sturdy, and comfortable to use. Using an ill-fitting one can make your knee pain worse.
Physical Therapy
Knee pain can be treated using physical therapy. This involves performing a variety of exercises and stretches under the guidance of a physical therapist to strengthen the knee and the surrounding areas. You will perform various exercises and stretches, along with getting massage therapy and more, to stimulate healing, strengthen your body, improve flexibility, reduce stiffness, and enhance overall mobility.
Surgical Treatment Options
Total Knee Replacement Surgery
If non-surgical options do not work for you, your doctor may offer a total knee replacement as an option if the cause of your knee pain is a deteriorated knee joint. Damaged parts of the joint are removed and replaced with artificial parts that mimic the functions going forward.
Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
Also known as unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, this surgery involves replacing one of the three knee compartments. That may be the medial, lateral, and patellofemoral regions.
This procedure ensures that an arthritic damaged compartment receives treatment while sparing the healthier ones. Compared to total arthroplasty, unicompartmental knee surgery is less invasive and has a faster recovery period.
Arthroscopic Surgery
Arthroscopic surgery is a diagnostic and surgical technique. This surgical procedure helps diagnose and treat knee pain. Your doctor will insert a camera-carrying tube into the joint to locate and magnify the root cause of the knee pain. If repairs are necessary, they can most likely be made during the procedure.
Osteotomy
This less invasive procedure is fit for physically active individuals with one-sided wear and tear due to poor knee alignment. The surgeon will trim the shin or thigh bone to re-align pressure into the joint’s other side.
The primary goal of an osteotomy is to halt the further progression of knee osteoarthritis. If successful, an osteotomy can prolong the need for more surgical knee replacement operations.
Treatment For Knee Pain In Westlake, OH
The causes of knee pain can be many, but so are your treatment options. Do not hesitate to reach out to a trusted provider to know which one will best suit your orthopedic needs.
Are you looking to manage your knee pain in Westlake, Ohio? Orthopaedic Associates has you covered! Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons, like Dr. Lew and Dr. Maheshwer, provide personalized patient care services for all types of orthopedic needs.
Call us at (440) 892-1440 to learn why our joint reconstruction and ancillary services are the best in the region. You can also book an appointment with the best associates in orthopedics.
