Painful Knee Arthritis

Painful knee arthritis, specifically osteoarthritis, is a common condition that can significantly affect one’s quality of life. Treatment for knee arthritis aims to reduce pain, improve function, and slow down the progression of the disease. Here are various treatment options for painful knee arthritis:

1. Lifestyle Modifications:
   – Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce stress on the knee joint and alleviate pain.
   – Home Exercise: Regular low-impact exercises like swimming, cycling, and gentle range-of-motion exercises can help strengthen the muscles around the knee and improve joint function.
   – Assistive Devices: Using a cane or brace may help offload the joint and improve mobility.
2. Physical Therapy:
   – A physical therapist can develop a customized exercise program to improve knee strength and flexibility and teach techniques to reduce pain.  This is especially helpful for patients with a recent loss of knee motion or who suffer from buckling. 
3. Medications:
   – Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis.
   – Prescription Medications: In some cases, stronger oral pain medications may be prescribed for pain relief.
   – Disease-Modifying Medications: In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may be necessary to slow down joint damage.
4. Injections:
   – Corticosteroid Injections: These injections can provide significant pain relief and reduce inflammation in the knee joint when oral medications are insufficient.
   – Hyaluronic Acid Injections: Also known as viscosupplementation or gel injections, these injections can improve joint lubrication and thereby reduce pain.
5. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy:
    – PRP injections involve using a patient’s own blood components to promote tissue healing and reduce pain.
6. Surgery:
   – Arthroscopy: In cases where there is mechanical damage (e.g., loose cartilage or meniscus tears), minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery may be performed to remove or repair damaged tissue.  This is less effective in patients with more advanced arthritis or in patients with alignment issues (ex: severe bow leggedness)
   – Partial Knee Replacement (Unicompartmental): If arthritis is limited to one part of the knee, a partial knee replacement may be an option.
   – Total Knee Replacement (TKR): In severe cases of knee arthritis, where conservative treatments are no longer effective, a TKR may be recommended. This involves replacing the damaged joint with an artificial implant.

The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the arthritis, the individual’s age, activity level, and overall health. It’s essential to work closely with a healthcare provider or orthopedic specialist to develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and goals. At Total Orthopedics and Sports Medicine we have specialists who can help you weigh the benefits and risks of each treatment option to make an informed decision about managing your painful knee arthritis.