Knee Replacement Alternatives

While knee replacement surgery has become almost commonplace the fact is that any surgeon worth their salt will try and discourage you from going under the knife until you’ve exhausted all your other options first. And that’s the way it should be. You should always try and find a way to fix what you have before deciding to replace it with something artificial. But just what are the knee replacement alternatives?

Consider These Knee Replacement Alternatives 

Before you decide to have your knee replaced you should think long and hard about these alternatives to knee replacement surgery.

• Lose weight – Easier said than done we know but still a viable and preferable option for many whose knee problems are related to weight. Science tells us that every 10 pounds of excess weight imposes 60 additional pounds of pressure on the knee joint when walking. By bringing your weight under control you may find that your knee problems become a thing of the past.
• Work with a physiotherapist – A physiotherapist can design knee replacement exercises that strengthen the knee joint and correct any imperfections in your gait. Sometimes knee pain is caused by the fact that a person has a unique way of walking that is in conflict with the way their knee is designed. Correcting the walk and strengthening the knee may alleviate any issue you were having.
• Acupuncture – Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and has proven an effective method for controlling or alleviating pain for countless people. While in the West acupuncture is considered an “alternative” treatment, in Asia it’s considered mainstream and can produce results that startle even the most diehard Western scientists.
• Arthroscopic surgery – Arthroscopic surgery occupies a middle ground between the treatments outlined above and knee replacement surgery. With arthroscopic surgery the surgeon makes tiny incisions into which he or she places a small camera and light as well as a narrow operating tool. The surgeon then works while watching a video screen. This type of surgery is less invasive and good for removing bones spurs, repairing ligaments and removing damaged cartilage.
• Knee injections – With this treatment hyaluronic acid injections are used to lubricate the knee joint. Doing so provides pain relief and helps improve shock absorption. Some who undergo this treatment claim it helps improve mobility as well. It’s not a treatment without potential disadvantages however, as it may produce swelling and if you’re allergic to poultry you may have a negative reaction.

Conclusion

Replacing the knee joint is a major procedure that should never be undertaken until you have first examined all the knee replacement alternatives. There’s actually a good chance one of the above outlined alternatives to knee replacement surgery may in fact provide exactly what you’re looking for in terms of relief and do so at a fraction of the cost and with a fraction of the recovery time of full knee replacement surgery. Before you decide on any form of treatment for your bothersome knee make sure you discuss all your alternatives with your doctor.