Nonsurgical Knee Treatments

There are many nonsurgical treatment options that are designed to alleviate the symptoms resulting from arthritis or other causes of damage to the knee joint. Despite the claims of many clinics, these treatments will not “fix” the problem. However, if these treatments offer enough improvement to produce a satisfactory quality of life, they can be continued as long as they remain effective.

Medicine & Injections

Cautious use of anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) will improve the pain enough to “take the edge off.” There are also a variety of medications that can be injected into the joint. These injections may provide varying degrees of temporary relief. It is important to be aware of possible side effects related to these treatments.

Exercise

Any type of exercise, including supervised physical therapy, that improves overall conditioning and the strength of the muscles around the knee is encouraged and beneficial. Although each situation is unique, there is typically no significant risk of causing any damage to the knee joint itself with low-impact exercise. Exercises like swimming and stationary cycling that do not require weight-bearing through the joint will often cause less discomfort. Regardless, any method of exercise that is tolerable is a good thing.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of knee joint damage typically worsen over time. Often nonoperative treatments become less effective. If the symptoms progress to the point that one's quality of life is not satisfactory, knee replacement surgery will dramatically improve one’s pain, function, and ability to return to a much more active lifestyle.