With an aging population and a progressing obesity epidemic, TKR, or Total Knee Replacement surgeries, are expected to increase in the United States from the current 719,000 annually to over 3.48 million per year by 2030, according to a 2007 study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. TKR surgeries are expensive, can involve a long and painful recovery period, and in many cases, are completely unnecessary. A 2014 study by Virginia Commonwealth University determined that about 1/3 of knee replacement surgeries are the wrong course of treatment for patients. If you’re searching for knee pain treatments, what should you ask before going under the knife?
Could Weight Loss Help?
In the US, 2 out of every 3 adults are carrying some extra body weight, and the added pounds mean plenty of pressure on weight-bearing joints like the knees. Unfortunately, even a few pounds can add up to increased pain; each pound of excess weight contributes an extra four pounds of pressure on the knees. Dr. Eric Matteson, MD, of the Rheumatology division at the Mayo Clinic, stated that “Weight plays an important role in joint stress, so when people are very overweight, it puts stress on their joints, especially […] the knees and the hips.” When you’re looking for knee pain relief in Orlando, working with diet, nutrition, and gentle, non-impact exercise like swimming or yoga can be a great first step toward improving feeling and function.
Would Physical Therapy Change the Prognosis?
In many cases, knee joint pain is caused by muscular weakness or imbalance, alignment or stability issues that lead to uneven wear and tear, or biomechanical issues with the way you walk or move. Adding physical therapy to your care regimen may help you avoid knee replacement surgery by fixing simple underlying causes of the pain. Physical therapists can also help you learn how to move safely so you can begin adding careful cardio and calisthenics back to your daily exercises for strengthening the body and eliminating excess weight for knee pain relief.
Is this My Last Resort?
Major orthopedic surgery is expensive, comes with a host of possible risks and complications, involves a long recovery period, and in rare cases, may leave a patient with more pain than they started with if the replacement joint fails. Every conservative treatment option should be explored and considered, including things like exercise and nutritional support, physical therapy, medications, injections that can reduce inflammation or increase joint lubrication and mobility, and even less invasive surgical procedures. Is having a total knee replacement surgery the only remaining option for knee pain treatment? Learn more about ViscoGen™’s non-surgical knee pain treatment in Orlando.
What is the Expected Outcome, and How Long will it Last?
Does your medical team anticipate that you’ll be able to get back to a fully active, mobile lifestyle? What kind of support will be necessary to assist you in healing and regaining strength, stability, and function? Can the surgery wait? At best, a replacement knee joint will be functional for 15-20 years before failing and needing to be replaced. If you’re only in your 40’s or 50’s, you can anticipate a repeat surgery when you’re in your 60’s or 70’s. In up to 12% of cases, people will need the surgery even sooner, according to a 2011 report published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, which found that at the 10-year mark these individuals experienced replacement joint failure and needed a revision surgery.
Non-Surgical Knee Pain Treatment in Orlando
If you’re looking at options for effective knee pain relief, contact the professional medical staff at ViscoGen™ in Orlando! Our non-surgical knee pain treatment is FDA approved and covered by most major insurances.
