Why Knee Arthritis Treatment Without Surgery Is Gaining Popularity?

If you often suffer from knee pain, it may be an indication of knee arthritis which may or may not have any symptoms. According to the statistics published by Arthritis Care and Research, in the United States, approximately 14 million people have this issue. Among these individuals, almost 50% will suffer from an advanced form of arthritis in the future. In recent times, knee arthritis treatment without surgery is gaining popularity among the masses as it is not only easier but less expensive.

Let us look into the details of what this disease is and evaluate if the claim of knee arthritis treatment without surgery is true.

What is Knee Arthritis?

All of our bones have a layer of soft and flexible cartilage at their ends. This cartilage prevents the bone ends from getting rubbed against each other at the joints when we walk or simply move our bones.

In knee arthritis, this protective layer of cartilage is broken down either in one knee or in both. As a result, the bones become exposed and rub against each other frequently. This causes pain associated with inflammation. As the patients age, arthritis worsens and becomes more painful causing them to be less mobile and more dependent on mobility aid.

Causes

Knee arthritis is often autoimmune in nature. Our immune system attacks our knees and causes them to swell. When they remain inflamed for long, the cartilage on the knees starts breaking and thus initiates arthritis.

The second and most common reason for knee arthritis is aging. As we age, the cartilage around the ends of the bones becomes weak and thus more prone to breaking and causing inflammation.

Symptoms

If you have knee arthritis, you are likely to have some of the following knee arthritis symptoms:

• Knee pain and stiffness
• Swollen knees
• Clicking or grinding noises from the knees
• Sensation of warmth in the knees
• A teasing sensation when you try to bend your knee
• Worsening of pain after going upstairs or downstairs
• Pain in the knees during the night
• Pain in the knees when weight is lifted
• Locking of knees
• Skin discoloration around the painful knee
• Limited mobility
• Pain that worsens in cold weather

Types of Knee Arthritis

Knee arthritis is of many types but some of the commonly occurring types include the following:

Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition in which the wear and tear of the joint progresses to the bones as well. As a result, the pain is not only in the joint but also in some parts of the bone. Knee osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects not only knees but other joints as well. Being autoimmune means that the condition is caused by the attack of the body’s immune system on the knees. However, the exact cause of why our white blood cells (WBCs) attack our bones (or organs in case of other diseases) is unknown.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

As the name suggests, juvenile arthritis is a condition which commonly affects children. The cause of this type of arthritis is also autoimmune. The condition is so prevalent that in the United States, every 1 in 1,000 children is at risk of developing juvenile idiopathic arthritis often in the knees.

Knee Joint Arthritis and Current Treatment Landscape

Once knee joint arthritis is diagnosed with the help of tests like knee x-ray, MRI, or CT scan, the next step is to treat it. At present, there are some of the following treatment options available for the disease:

1.      Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery or knee arthroplasty is a procedure that involves the replacement of a torn and damaged knee with an artificial one. The purpose is to reduce pain and discomfort permanently and improve the patient’s mobility which has previously been restricted by the condition.

2.      Knee Pain Medications

Apart from knee replacement surgery, many over-the-counter (OTC) pain-relief medications are available which are prescribed to reduce pain associated with knee osteoarthritis. The most common options include acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), as well as naproxen.

3.      Corticosteroid Injections

As an approach for knee arthritis treatment without surgery, hyaluronic acid or corticosteroid injections are also given for treating knee arthritis. This is because these substances are naturally present in the body where they act as lubricants in the joints.

Although steroid injections to relieve pain are for a short time i.e. for 24 to 48 hours, hyaluronic acid injections allow you to get relief from pain for up to 6 months.

Treatment of Knee Arthritis without Surgery

Apart from the conservative treatment options, knee arthritis treatment without surgery is possible. For this purpose, many non-invasive management strategies are available. In this regard, one should focus on the following:

1.      Lifestyle Modifications

When it comes to knee arthritis treatment without surgery, the first and probably the most important step is to make certain lifestyle changes. These further include the following:

2.      Maintenance of a Healthy Weight

The bulkier you are, the more weight your knees have to bear. As a result, there is a greater risk of wear and tear of knee cartilage in obese individuals as compared to those who have a healthier body weight. You can start exercising to reduce or maintain your body weight and also replace fatty substances in your diet as a measure for knee arthritis treatment without surgery.

3.      Adoption of Knee-Strengthening Exercises

Exercising is a great way to keep your knees protected from the disease as well as to contain the damage that has already been done. Some of the exercise options for giving some strength to your knees with an aim for knee arthritis treatment without surgery include the following:

Bridge

This exercise is particularly known for its potential to strengthen your core and well as lower body muscles. It is done by laying on your back and bending your knees. Then the hips are raised from the floor and the posture is maintained for a few seconds.

Straight Leg Raise

This one can be done at home at any time. You just need to lay down and lift one leg. Make sure to keep your thigh muscles tight during the lifting. After a few seconds, put your leg done and then repeat. It is best to repeat the same exercise on both legs at least 10 times a day.

Step-Ups

Step-ups are good as they ease the downstairs and upstairs movements.

Swimming

Swimming is the best exercise for knee arthritis as it does not require much force to perform but has the potential to strengthen leg muscles.

4.      Limited Stress on the Knees

By limiting the stress on your knees, arthritis can also be managed. Apart from exercises for knee arthritis treatment without surgery, using a walking stick, crutches, or a cane can also reduce the pressure on the knees. You should also use shoes with thick soles which tend to minimize stress on your knees in case of shock. It is also important to live in a space where hurdles are minimal. This will reduce the risk of bruising your knees with furniture and cause an injury.

5.      Alteration of Diet

Along with the above-mentioned approaches, it is also essential to change what you eat. The given foods are good for you if you want a knee arthritis treatment without surgery:

• Adding high-calcium foods can strengthen your bones and joints.
• Using vitamin C-rich foods like broccoli, cabbage, kale, strawberries, tropical fruits, as well as citrus fruits are good for building up the connective tissue and thus restoring knee strength.
• Ginger is a great option for relieving knee pain in general as well as in the case of knee arthritis.
• Vitamin K is also an ideal substance for making new cartilage. It can be obtained from kale, eggs, chicken, bacon, ham, Swiss cheese, as well as Brussels sprouts.
• Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids also reduce stiffness and inflammation in the knees. For this purpose, incorporate trout, salmon, sardines, or mackerel in your weekly meal plan.
• Eating whole grains can also help alleviate knee swelling because of their protein content. Therefore, you should not shy away from eating barley, oats, white rice, and wheat.

Knee Arthritis Treatment without Surgery: Emerging Non-Surgical Technologies

The current pharmacological as well as non-pharmacological interventions are not the only options we have for knee arthritis treatment without surgery. Rather, hopes are high as many new approaches are being studied and tested. These include the given strategies:

Micro-Particle Injections

Micro-particle injections carry synthetic gel-like pellets into the blood vessels around the knees. This material forms a cushioning at the area thus reducing pain. Some approaches involve the use of gold micro-particles which can accelerate our immune system to fight inflammation. Therefore, the method has the potential for knee arthritis treatment without surgery.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a regenerative medicine technique in which the patient’s blood is collected and platelets are extracted from it. These platelets are then injected into the deteriorating knee. The procedure can regenerate the damaged tissues as the platelets are rich in growth factors.

Recycled Cartilage Auto/Allo Implantation (RECLAIM)

Recycled cartilage auto/allo implantation or RECLAIM is a technique in which the damaged cartilage of the knee is repaired. Although it is an invasive procedure as it involves the collection of damaged knee tissue and its mixing with autologous cells and glue to form an implant for the knee, it can guarantee recovery within a year. It is an easier and less time-consuming method and thus a good knee arthritis treatment without surgery.

Prevention and Long-Term Care

No matter how inevitable knee arthritis may seem, it is still treatable as well as preventable. All you have to do is the following:

Early Intervention Strategies

If you are someone who has been suffering from knee pain every now and then, it is best to make some lifestyle changes to prevent the minor issue from becoming a major one. In this regard, one should incorporate regular knee-strengthening exercises into their routine such as walking, cycling, or swimming. Stretching is also a good option. In addition, maintaining a healthy weight also pulls you one step away from the disease.

Risk Reduction Techniques

To reduce the risk of knee arthritis, you should avoid bending your knees too much. It is also good to wear protective gear if you are playing sports, running, or going for a hike. You can also avoid jumping as it may cause knee injury.

Patient Education Resources

Apart from adopting the above measures for knee arthritis treatment without surgery as well as for the prevention of knee arthritis, it is also good to keep yourself educated on the matter, especially in terms of new treatment strategies.

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Bottom Line

Knee arthritis is one of the most common issues in the United States as a huge chunk of the elderly population is at risk of developing it. The people who suffer from the condition often face limited mobility.

Both as a preventive as well as management therapy, it is essential to change the way you live as having a healthier diet and regular exercise can indeed help with the condition. In addition, many non-surgical interventions are available for the management of pain.

If the issue is severe, knee replacement surgery is often the last option. But nowadays, many novel therapies have come to light for knee arthritis treatment without surgery. Each knee arthritis treatment without surgery may or may not be invasive but is far simpler than a replacement surgery.

It can be concluded that knee arthritis treatment without surgery is plausible and is not far-fetched as new therapeutic options will become common within a few years.

For purchasing knee braces, mobility aids, and other medical devices, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.

References

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5319385/#:~:text=We%20estimate%20that%20about%20fourteen,and%20other%20racial%2Fethnic%20minorities.

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