If you’re like many people who have never endured a surgery and are experiencing chronic knee pain, you’re likely stressed, worried, and trying to figure out a knee pain treatment without surgery. Although there are several common causes for chronic knee pain, some of which may require surgical treatment, it is important to realize that there are effective knee pain treatments without surgery.
Knee pain treatment without surgery can include a variety of modalities, from injections to physical therapy for your knee and other non-surgical options. By finding a provider who will advocate for non-surgical treatments and exhaust all options before turning to surgery, you may be able to find relief from your chronic knee pain.
Understanding Common Causes of Chronic Knee Pain
It is important to understand the source of your knee pain before you and a trusted healthcare practitioner can determine if there is a knee pain treatment without surgery you can try. Chronic knee pain, meaning it persists and doesn’t go away, and isn’t the result of a traumatic injury, can be caused by changes to your bones, tendons, ligaments, or even a result of simple overuse over time. No one wants to go through surgery unless it’s necessary, and some conditions can be healed without it. With that said, it’s always best to be evaluated by a qualified orthopedic doctor to know for sure.
1. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a common cause of chronic knee pain that stems from degenerative changes to the joint tissue. The joint tissue helps keep your joints, including your knees, operating smoothly without noise (like popping, squeaking, or creaking), pain, or strange sensations, like stiffness. Because this condition is degenerative, it unfortunately means it will get worse over time — and it can negatively affect the other components of a joint, such as your tendons, ligaments, and meniscus. While surgery may end up being necessary at some point, it is not the first line of defense against chronic knee pain.
2. Tendinitis, Overuse, and Strains
Additionally, tendinitis, overuse, or repetitive strain can cause knee pain that persists. Tendinitis occurs when there is swelling in your tendons, which can be caused by an injury, like a strain, or from overuse, such as the case with jumper’s knee, a sports-related injury. Often, knee pain treatment without surgery is the preferred course of action for these chronic pain issues.
3. Ligament Injuries and Meniscus Tears
Ligament injuries and minor meniscus tears may heal over time without surgical intervention. Ligaments are the connective tissue that connect the two points of your joints together, providing stability while they move. Your meniscus is a type of cartilage that acts almost like a shock absorber in a vehicle, preventing pain, abnormal movement, and stopping bone-on-bone interaction, which is painful.
For those with minor ligament injuries and meniscus tears, there is the option for knee pain treatment without surgery, though a doctor may recommend surgery if the tear or injury is severe or traumatic. These are common causes of knee pain that can improve without surgery.
Physical Therapy And Exercise
You may be wondering how you can heal the various causes of chronic knee pain, and what exactly you can do to get knee pain treatment without surgery. Physical therapy for knees is often a great solution for healing that pain, providing both improved stability, reduced or eliminated pain, and tools for success moving forward. A physical therapist is a licensed medical professional trained specifically to diagnose and treat movement injuries, diseases, and other conditions, including chronic pain.
Physical therapy for knees can provide the patient with knee pain treatment without surgery, depending on the case, of course, and frequently it is the first line of treatment for injuries. Physical therapy can provide the patient with much-needed pain relief through guided stretching and low-impact strengthening exercises that won’t harm the joint, and it can also provide the knowledge and tools to prevent future injury.
The physical therapist may also recommend supportive tools or assistive devices, such as braces, canes, walkers, and orthotics, to help manage pain and provide much-needed joint stability and support.
Medications For Pain Relief
Pain management is a major component of knee pain treatment without surgery. If an individual can effectively manage their pain and continue their normal activities of daily living without hindrance, they may not need surgery!
Pain relief is often used in conjunction with physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and additional support. Pain-relief medications can come in different forms, including over-the-counter oral medications, prescription medications, topical creams and gels, and injections. Supplements, like glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, may also help.
Over-the-counter options for pain relief include anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs like ibuprofen) and other analgesic-type medications like acetaminophen. It is very important to know that long-term consumption of over-the-counter pain medications can cause damage to your internal organs. Safe pain management for knee pain treatment without surgery should still be overseen by a medical professional.
Prescription oral pain medications may also be used to treat both chronic pain and acute symptoms. However, keep in mind that these must be prescribed by a doctor and carefully monitored to ensure there are no adverse effects or resulting addictions.
Additionally, injections, such as a corticosteroid shot, must be administered by a licensed healthcare professional, often only in a healthcare facility. Topical pain relief gels and creams could include pain relievers, which would be prescribed. However, some over-the-counter options offer cooling and analgesic effects.
Lifestyle Changes That Make a Difference
Knee pain treatment without surgery often includes elements of physical therapy, pain management, and lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes can have a major positive impact on an individual’s life, the pain they experience, and their mobility.
Ensuring an individual has proper footwear and support, and proper bracing if needed during activity, can make a difference in how much a person can move without pain. Additionally, activity modification may mean cycling instead of playing basketball or walking instead of running.
Rest and recovery are important components of non-surgical treatments for chronic knee pain that many overlook. An individual’s weight is also a common contributing factor to joint pain that must be addressed. Ultimately, joint stress reduction is a must.
Alternative And Complementary Therapies
Anyone who is carrying extra pounds likely already knows that their weight can affect how their joints feel, but they may not know how to lose weight to feel a difference. Having a multifaceted approach to knee pain treatment without surgery means pulling together different resources, like physical therapy, a nutritionist or registered dietician, and proper mental support, like with a counselor or therapist, that can all work together to solve the problem. Lifestyle changes are often critical in successfully treating knee pain without surgery.
Additional alternative and complementary therapies that could be introduced into an individual’s lifestyle and have a positive effect include acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic care. Some holistic medicine practices can offer benefits, though there is often insufficient published research to support them either way. It is important to consult with medical professionals who offer a range of orthopedic care options to find the best fit for your condition and preference.
Contact Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute
If you’re experiencing chronic knee pain and want help, contact the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute. Our team of caring, multifaceted professionals offers a wide range of personalized treatment options designed to get you living without pain —including knee pain treatment without surgery. Many people are able to find relief without having to go under the knife. Schedule a consultation today to see how we can help address your knee pain.