Knee pain can be dealt with by means of non-invasive treatments such as: physical therapy, bracing (that offers stability to the joint), pain medication, injections, infusions and lifestyle adjustments. In case of arthritis, anti-inflammatory drugs and ice can also be used. The former reduce the amount of swelling while the latter reduces stiffness in joints and post-exercise swelling. Nevertheless, neither can completely cure arthritis which causes pain, discomfort and immobility. It is an autoimmune condition usually characterized by swelling in the joints and cartilage damage as a result of inflammatory enzymes released into the body.
The Latest Treatments
Moreover, the latest treatments include: genicular nerve block, ablation by means of injection and disruption of the pain signals from the nerves around the knee. Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is the most popular one due to its effectiveness and safety level. The duration of this medical procedure is less than two hours and the recovery period is shorter than what is necessary for open surgery. During the procedure, a catheter is directed from the groin to the knee’s blood vessels and small particles are injected to block the blood supply and reduce the inflammatory markers that trigger pain signals. Post-operative observation is kept to a minimum and motion is improved within weeks. Ultimately, GAE can be combined with injections to maximize the effect. Steroid injections can be used monthly and other types of anti-inflammatory injections (such as lubricants) can be administered twice a year. The patient can also benefit from knee gel injections (if covered by insurance). These are hyaluronic acid injections and they perform quite nicely when administered on a regular basis.
Strategies for Knee Injuries
For knee injuries, Phoenix knee pain treatment specialists recommend: weight loss, occupational and physical therapy or other strategies such as combined use of heat and ice or electrical nerve stimulation. Physical therapy, for instance, increases blood flow to the knee as well as the strength of the muscles supporting the knee and limiting its pain. It also stretches the muscles and maintains proper alignment of the joint in order to reduce pain.
Alternative Treatments
Alternative treatments include: artificial cartilage, laser therapy, stem cell treatment and PRP therapy. Therefore, patients can benefit from hydrogels that become a cartilage substitute or laser therapy that is not considered experimental by insurance companies. They can also benefit from stem cells harvested from their own bone marrow and programmed to form new cartilage to replace the damaged one. Lastly, injections with PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) consist of platelets taken from the patient’s own blood and, then, spun and separated to have specific parts injected into the knee.
Conclusions
Alternative and even experimental treatments for knee pain are often highly effective, which is why patients can be very optimistic regarding the results of these therapies or procedures. Even though some of them are expensive and rarely covered by medical insurance, there are many options to choose from. There are also payment plans put into place for patients to access once they have done their diligent research. The main factor in alleviating pain is patience to find the type of treatment that will work for you and that you feel comfortable with choosing.