Osteoarthritis Knee Treatment: Alleviating Knee Pain in Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the leading cause of chronic pain and disability among older adults in the US. A staggering 37% of Americans over 60 experience chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis. OA is a degenerative joint disease that primarily affects the knees. It causes the cartilage in the joints to wear down, leading to pain, stiffness, inflammation, and reduced mobility. These symptoms can significantly impact daily life, making it difficult to perform everyday tasks and enjoy activities. While there is no cure for OA, there are effective treatments available to manage the pain and improve mobility. With recent medical advances and more powerful imaging technology, our affiliated physicians offer genicular artery embolization (GAE), a minimally invasive-image guided procedure with fewer complications and quicker recovery times that is a less invasive alternative to traditional knee surgery.
Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis
At American Knee Pain Centers, our priority is ensuring that you are well-informed about the various treatment options available for knee osteoarthritis. If you are struggling with worsening knee pain that impacts your daily activities, seeking treatment is crucial. Before exploring minimally invasive alternatives for addressing knee osteoarthritis, your primary care physician may initially recommend lifestyle adjustments and non-surgical interventions to manage symptoms, alleviate pain, and enhance joint functionality. While these approaches offer temporary relief, American Knee Pain Centers offer a more enduring solution for knee osteoarthritis through genicular artery embolization. Our affiliated physicians will assess your symptoms and tailor a treatment plan that aligns with your specific needs, ensuring a more lasting resolution for knee osteoarthritis.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms of knee osteoarthritis and improve overall joint health. Here are some lifestyle changes that may be beneficial for managing your knee pain.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Excess body weight places additional stress on weight-bearing joints, such as the knees. By maintaining a healthy weight, you reduce the load on your knees, potentially alleviating pain and slowing down the progression of osteoarthritis. A balanced diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, can contribute to weight management.
Regular Exercise
Engaging in regular, low-impact exercises is essential for managing osteoarthritis knee pain. Exercise helps maintain joint flexibility, strengthens surrounding muscles, and promotes overall joint health. Activities like walking, swimming, and cycling are excellent choices. A physical therapist can guide you in developing an exercise routine that suits your condition and goals.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Hot and cold therapy may be effective in managing pain and inflammation. Applying heat to the affected knee increases blood flow, promoting relaxation and reducing stiffness. Cold packs, on the other hand, numb pain and help minimize swelling. Alternating between hot and cold applications can provide a comprehensive approach to pain relief.
Orthotics and Proper Footwear
Shoe inserts (orthotics) can help redistribute pressure on the knee joint and help absorb shock. Wearing supportive and cushioned footwear with proper arch support can also contribute to improved joint alignment and reduced stress on the knees.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Pain Management
Non-surgical treatments for knee osteoarthritis pain aim to relieve symptoms, improve function, and slow down the progression of the disease. Although these treatments may be effective, they only provide temporary relief from your symptoms.
Pain Medications
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and inflammation. However, long-term use should be monitored due to potential side effects. Topical pain relief creams, gels, or patches containing NSAIDs or other pain-relieving agents can also be applied directly to the skin over the knee to improve pain and limit medication use.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is one of the first approaches to managing knee osteoarthritis, aiming to alleviate pain and enhance joint function. A physical therapist can design an exercise program tailored to your knee pain, focusing on strengthening the muscles around the knee and improving joint flexibility.
Cortisone Shots
Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents that can provide rapid relief when injected directly into the knee joint. While effective for short-term pain management, the frequency of injections may be limited due to potential side effects.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Viscosupplementation involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the joint to improve lubrication and cushioning. These injections can enhance joint function and alleviate pain temporarily, particularly for those with mild to moderate osteoarthritis.
Genicular Artery Embolization: Knee Pain Relief Without Surgery
At American Knee Pain Centers, we’re not just knee pain specialists, we’re pioneers in minimally invasive treatments for knee osteoarthritis to help find you relief from knee pain. While lifestyle changes and non-surgical treatments can alleviate pain temporarily, they don’t always address the root of the problem. Genicular artery embolization (GAE) targets the source of your pain with minimal risk and downtime, providing pain relief for up to three years and a less invasive alternative to knee replacement surgery. Take a look at the comparisons below to see how GAE outperforms other non-surgical treatments and traditional surgeries, highlighting the advantages it offers over these procedures.
Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
Genicular artery embolization is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure used to treat osteoarthritis knee pain without the need for surgery. During GAE, tiny particles are injected into the genicular arteries to reduce blood flow to the inner lining of the knee joint, improving inflammation and pain. Patients experience significant relief from chronic knee pain and an improvement in osteoarthritis symptoms, such as swelling, stiffness, and range of motion.
GAE vs. Cortisone Shots
Cortisone injections target inflammation directly, providing quick relief for knee pain and discomfort and increased joint mobility. Unlike cortisone shots that provide temporary relief lasting only 2-3 months, GAE offers a more lasting solution, minimizing knee pain for a substantial period of 1-3 years.
GAE vs. Knee Replacement
Knee replacement surgery involves replacing damaged knee joints with durable, artificial implants that provide relief for chronic and severe knee pain due to osteoarthritis. While knee replacement surgery involves significant recovery time and potential complications, GAE offers a minimally invasive approach, providing relief from knee pain without the need for a more invasive joint replacement procedure.
What is the Best Treatment for Osteoarthritis in Knees?
For those dealing with knee osteoarthritis, genicular artery embolization offers an effective solution for chronic knee pain. This minimally invasive procedure, led by an interventional radiologist, reduces the risk of complications and directly targets the cause of your knee pain. GAE is a same-day procedure and is typically done on an outpatient basis, allowing for a quick return to regular activities and a shorter recovery time. It provides efficient relief from knee pain and addresses osteoarthritis symptoms, making it a practical choice for those seeking a streamlined and effective resolution to knee pain without the need for major surgery.
What to Expect from Genicular Artery Embolization
Osteoarthritis Treatment Frequently Asked Questions
There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but effective management strategies can help control symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals with the condition.
Treatment for osteoarthritis typically involves a combination of lifestyle adjustments, medications, physical therapy, and, when necessary, surgical interventions. However, genicular artery embolization (GAE) has emerged as a highly effective, minimally invasive alternative for knee osteoarthritis, particularly when conventional treatments prove ineffective or if you wish to avoid knee replacement surgery.
The goals include relieving pain, improving joint function, and slowing down the progression of the disease.
Are you tired of knee pain holding you back? Take the first step towards getting back to an active life by requesting an appointment at American Knee Pain Centers today!
Our Knee Pain Specialists
Whether your knee osteoarthritis results from years of wear and tear or a sports injury, our team of knee pain specialists in New York and New Jersey offers personalized diagnoses, tailor-made treatment plans, and access to cutting-edge minimally invasive procedures like genicular artery embolization. The following affiliated interventional radiologists are available at our locations.
What Our Patients Are Saying
Don’t let knee pain limit your life any longer! Request an appointment with our specialist to start your pain-free journey today.