There are other ways than knee replacement surgery. These ways work on pain and help the knee work better. They do this with no big surgery. These include losing weight and moving more, physical therapy, drugs, shots (like hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids), and a brace. Other choices are arthroscopic surgery, knee osteotomy, and new ways like stem cell therapy.
Conservative Treatments:
Weight Loss and Exercise: Less weight puts less stress on the knee. Some moves make the muscles strong. This can give the joint more support and bring less pain.
Physical Therapy: This work helps make muscles near the knee strong. It lets you bend more. It makes the knee work better.
Medications:
NSAIDs: These drugs can help make pain and swelling go down.
Corticosteroids: Shots of corticosteroids can give fast help from pain. But the help is for a short time.
Injections:
Hyaluronic Acid: Shots of hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation) can help the joint move in a smooth way and have less pain.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: These shots use your own blood parts to help you heal. They also help with swelling.
Bracing: A knee brace can give support. It can also help with pain by keeping the knee straight.
Acupuncture: For some people, acupuncture helps with their knee pain.
Walking Aids: A cane or a walker can take stress off the knee. They give support and help you keep your feet.
More Advanced Options:
Arthroscopic Surgery: This surgery can fix some knee problems. It may put off the need for a new knee. Or you may not need one at all.
Knee Osteotomy: This is a surgery that lines up the knee in a new way. It moves stress to a new place. This can put off the need for a new knee joint.
Regenerative Medicine:
Stem Cell Therapy: Shots of stem cells try to help the knee re-grow its parts. This can lower pain and swelling in the knee.
Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE): A care that uses a small cut. It slows how much blood goes to the knee to stop pain and swelling.