Addressing Knee Pain With Conservative Options First

An estimated 25% of adults experience frequent knee pain, which not only impairs function and mobility, but it can also affect their quality of life on a daily basis. Thankfully, there are numerous nonsurgical and minimally invasive options your doctor may employ to help provide relief, including:

• Lifestyle modifications and anti-inflammatory medications – Weight loss and avoiding activities that aggravate the knee can help in managing the pain. Medications may also be recommended to help decrease swelling and pain.
• Physical therapy – Physical therapists work with you and your doctor to create a personalized treatment plan to relieve your pain. Your therapist may recommend weight training and flexibility exercises or incorporate modalities, such as therapeutic ultrasound or electrical muscle stimulation, to address the knee pain.
• Bracing – External stabilization relieves weight on the affected part of the knee and can help reduce inflammation as well as strengthen the knee muscles.
• Cortisone injections – Many people find relief from their knee pain with cortisone, a type of steroid, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication that is injected directly into the knee.
• Minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure – Using small incisions and surgical instruments including a camera, your doctor is able to view the inside of the joint and address the source of pain with minimal scarring. Performed on an outpatient basis often under local anesthesia, arthroscopic procedures allow for patients to experience quicker recoveries than with traditional surgical procedures.

If you are experiencing knee pain or want to learn more about your treatment options, please call (262) 395-4141 or request an appointment online with one of our joint experts at Aspen Orthopedic Specialists.