10 Ways to Postpone or Avoid Knee Surgery
by Donna Rae Siegfried
No-Brainers:
Weight loss. Losing just 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half, according to a study presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual scientific meeting last fall. And should you need surgery later, you’ll decrease your risk of complications and reduce strain on your knees, which will make your rehabilitation go more smoothly. (Learn more with the Arthritis Today Weight Loss Guide.)
Physical activity. The health of your knees depends on movement. Strong muscles support the joint and relieve pressure. Movement keeps tissues within the joint flexible, lubricated and replenished with nutrients that help healing. If you end up having surgery, the rehab will be easier if you start strengthening muscles before surgery. Walking is a great way to keep your knees healthy and pain free. Learn more about why exercise is so important if you have arthritis, and get some great ideas for maintaining motivation, stretching, safe moves and more.
No (or Very Few) Side Effects:
Braces. Prescribed by a doctor and fitted by a physical therapist, braces can improve the alignment of the knee, relieving pain. Read how braces can help.
Corticosteroid injections into the knee joint help to reduce inflammation, which can alleviate pain without causing side effects associated with oral corticosteroids. Read the Bulletin on the Rheumatic Diseases story.
Electrical stimulation may reduce pain by strengthening the quadriceps (the large muscles on the front of the thigh that help to stabilize the knee joint), or it may even encourage regeneration of cartilage cells. Read about recent studies of electrical stimulation for knee OA.
Hyaluronic acid injections, which supplement a naturally occurring lubricant lacking in the joints of people with OA, may decrease pain and increase function for some people, and help delay surgery.
Botox injections have been shown to relieve severe knee OA pain and buy time before surgery. Read about the research.
You’ll Likely Take One:
Over-the-counter medications, such as the analgesic acetaminophen (Tylenol) and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), ease pain. But several recent studies indicate that some NSAIDs may delay healing of connective tissues, such as cartilage or tendons. Check out the Arthritis Today 2007 Drug Guide.
Prescription medications are available to ease pain and decrease inflammation. Whether they improve tissues in the joint continues to be investigated. Check out the Arthritis Today 2007 Drug Guide.
Dietary supplements. The National Institutes of Health is funding a study to see whether the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin helps repair cartilage. The duo has been shown to reduce pain in people with moderate-to-severe knee pain – those who need it most. Learn more about glucosamine.
