Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It often causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the knee joints, making it difficult to perform daily activities. Finding the best treatment for osteoarthritis in the knee is crucial for managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
Non-Surgical Treatments
For example, a broken bone may damage the joint surface and lead to arthritis years after the injury. Meniscal tears and ligament injuries can cause instability and additional wear on the knee joint which, over time, can result in arthritis. Try to maintain a healthy weight and avoid activities that put a lot of stress on your knees. Get treatment if you have symptoms of arthritis of the knee. Treatment might include nonsurgical treatments, injections and surgery. Typically, healthcare providers try non-surgical treatments before recommending surgery.
There are several non-surgical treatments that can help alleviate the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis:
Talk with your doctor before starting any of them and be sure they know if you’re taking them regularly. But even if you’re only moderately overweight, you’ll still benefit if you shed some pounds. There’s no cure for OA, but there are a lot of treatment options you can try. If you have joint pain or stiffness that doesn’t go away, make an appointment with your doctor.
Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine. There’s an inevitability when it comes to osteoarthritis claiming residence within your knees. The wear-and-tear of daily life simply chews away at the shock-absorbing cartilage in your joints over the years. Because medications taken orally to relieve pain may have harmful side effects, your doctor may recommend other options that target only the affected joint(s).
Your GP, or possibly a physiotherapist, will discuss the benefits you can expect from a exercise programme and can give you an exercise plan to follow at home. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is often used to treat OA. It uses electrodes to send electrical impulses to nerve pathways. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, bone will rub on bone. If you have pain that lasts a few days after a workout, it’s certainly OK to back off a little.
Special devices, such as tap turners, can make performing these tasks more manageable. Your occupational therapist can give you help and advice about using assistive devices in your home or workplace. Footwear with shock-absorbing soles can help relieve some of the pressure on the joints in your legs as you walk. Steroids are a type of medication that contain manmade versions of the hormone cortisol, and are sometimes used to treat particularly painful musculoskeletal problems. Apply a pea-size amount of capsaicin cream to your affected joints up to 4 times a day, but not more often than every 4 hours.
- Physical Therapy: Strengthening exercises and stretching can help improve joint function and reduce pain.
- Weight Management: Losing weight can lessen the stress on the knee joints, reducing pain and inflammation.
- Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help manage pain and inflammation.
- Injections: Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections may provide temporary relief from pain.
Work closely with your doctor to determine the best treatment plan for you. The knee is one of the most common joints to be affected by osteoarthritis (OA), and it can lead to serious effects on one’s mobility, quality of life and livelihood. Pain, swelling and stiffness from cartilage damage and loss can make it difficult even to walk or climb stairs. And if you have a job that requires you to be on your feet and moving, worsening knee OA will make it difficult or impossible. The final option for treating hip and knee osteoarthritis is joint replacement surgery. Although they are major procedures with risks to consider, they are also remarkably effective for most patients deemed candidates by their surgeon.
Surgical Options
If non-surgical treatments do not provide adequate relief, surgery may be considered. Some common surgical treatments for knee osteoarthritis include:
- Arthroscopy: A minimally invasive procedure to remove damaged tissue or bone fragments from the knee joint.
- Partial or Total Knee Replacement: In severe cases, replacing the damaged knee joint with an artificial one may be necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis in the knee?
A: The best treatment for knee osteoarthritis depends on the severity of symptoms and individual needs. Non-surgical options are usually recommended first, followed by surgery if necessary.
Q: How can I prevent knee osteoarthritis?
A: Maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, and avoiding activities that put excessive stress on the knees can help prevent knee osteoarthritis.
Q: Is there a cure for knee osteoarthritis?
A: There is no cure for knee osteoarthritis, but treatment options can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
