If you’re experiencing knee pain, you might be wondering what you can do to avoid surgery and when surgery might be your best option. Here are answers to these common questions and information to help you determine next steps to resolve your knee pain.
Knee Pain, Why?
There are many reasons why you might develop knee pain. Many patients are happy to hear that often knee pain can be treated and resolved without surgery. However, there are times when surgery is the most reliable solution.
Common Reasons for Knee Pain
Two of the most common causes for knee pain are musculoskeletal strains or an exacerbation of arthritis.
- A musculoskeletal strain is simply a case of overworking the muscles around your knee joint. Think of this as feeling tired at the end of a long day but specifically related to your knee.
- Arthritis is a lack of cartilage, which is the shiny, smooth substance that facilitates movement of your joints. When this cartilage wears away, the bone underneath is exposed, which can cause pain. You may have heard of this referred to as “bone on bone.” Your bones are rubbing together without the cartilage between them that makes movement smooth and painless.
Additional Causes of Knee Pain
There are many other conditions that can cause knee pain, such as tendinitis, fractures, or injuries to the meniscus, collateral ligaments or the ACL or PCL. These injuries can be strains of varying severity or complete tears.
Let’s focus more on knee arthritis, which is typically a condition that progresses as you age.
Treatments for Knee Pain due to Arthritis
Conservative treatment (meaning no surgery) offers many different approaches. Treatment options include:
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory pain medications such as ibuprofen
- Activity modification to avoid activities that have caused knee pain in the past
- Weight loss
- Knee injections
- Bracing
These options might be used on their own at various times or in combination with each other to relieve pain.
Time for Surgery?
Eventually, knee arthritis progresses to a point where it is time to consider surgery. You’ll know you are at this point when your ability to do what you want to do is no longer acceptable to you. You will start to “live your life around your knee,” meaning your knee pain is dictating what activities you are able to do, and negatively impacting your life.
This is when you’ll want to discuss surgery with your orthopedic surgeon. The mainstay of treatment for end-stage arthritis is a total knee replacement. Knee replacement surgery is an elective procedure, and the decision to undergo surgery is a personal one.
Getting the Most out of Life
There are many advances in treatment that can help resolve knee pain, and even delay the need for surgery. When you have persisting knee pain, a referral to an orthopedic surgeon can give you more clarity on the causes, natural history and treatment options for your specific diagnosis.
Nick L. Van Roekel, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon, Nebraska Orthopaedic Center, PC, South
