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Do You Have Knee Pain From Osteoarthritis? You May Not Need Surgery. Here’s What You Can Try Instead
Aug
Most people with knee osteoarthritis find that pain can be controlled and mobility improved without the need for surgery. updated treatment guidelines from the Australian Healthcare Safety and Quality Commission.
What is knee osteoarthritis and what are the best ways to treat it?
More than 2 million Australians suffer from osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease that affects 2.1 million Australians. This it costs the economy AUD 4.3 billion per year.
Osteoarthritis is a common disease it affects knees, but can also affect the hips, spine, hands, and feet. It affects the entire joint, including the bones, cartilage, ligaments, and muscles.
Most people with osteoarthritis experience chronic pain and have difficulty performing basic daily activities, such as walking or climbing stairs.
Is this due to wear and tear?
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint most often affects older people, people who are overweight or obese, and people with previous knee injuries. However, contrary to popular belief, Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is not caused by “wear”.
Research shows The amount of structural wear apparent in the knee joint on an X-ray does not correlate with the level of pain or disability a person experiences. Some people have a low degree of structural wear and very bad symptoms, while others have a high degree of structural wear and minimal symptoms. So X-rays are not required to diagnose osteoarthritis of the knee and decide on treatment.
Telling people they have wear and tear can make them worry about their condition and fear damaging the joint. It can also encourage them to try invasive and potentially unnecessary treatments, such as surgery. it was shown in people with osteoarthritis and other common pain conditions such as back AND arm pain.
This led to a worldwide appeal for change in manner we think and communicate about osteoarthritis.
Read more: How Long Does Back Pain Last? And How Can Learning About Pain Improve Your Chances of Recovery?
What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis?
Non-surgical treatments are effective for most people with osteoarthritis, regardless of age or severity of symptoms. switch on education and self-control, exercise and physical activity, weight management and nutrition, and some pain medications.
Education is crucial to dispel misconceptions about knee osteoarthritis. This includes information about what osteoarthritis is, how it is diagnosed, its prognosis, and the most effective ways to manage symptoms yourself.
Health professionals who employ positive and reassuring language it can improve people’s knowledge and beliefs about osteoarthritis and its treatment.
Many people believe that exercise and physical activity will cause further damage to joints. But they are safe and sound and can reduce pain and disability. Exercise has fewer side effects than commonly used pain medications such as paracetamol and anti-inflammatory drugs and maybe prevent or delay the need for joint replacement surgery in the future.
Many types of exercises are effective for knee osteoarthritis, such as strength training, aerobic exercise such as walking or cycling, yoga, and tai chi. So you can do whatever exercise suits you best.
It is also crucial to boost your overall physical activity, such as taking more steps during the day and reducing the time you spend sitting.
Weight control is crucial for people who are overweight or obese. Weight loss can reduce knee pain and disabilityespecially when combined with exercise. Losing just 5-10% of body weight may be beneficial.
Pain medications should not replace treatments such as exercise and weight control, but can be used alongside these treatments to support relieve pain. Recommended medications These include paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Opioids are not recommendedThe risk of harm outweighs any potential benefit.
What about surgery?
People suffering from knee osteoarthritis typically undergo two types of surgery: knee arthroscopy and knee replacement.
Knee arthroscopy is a type of surgery performed laparoscopically to remove or repair damaged pieces of bone or cartilage that may be causing pain.
However, high-quality research he showed arthroscopy is not effective. Arthroscopy should not be used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee.
Joint replacement involves replacing joint surfaces with artificial parts. In 2021–2022 53,500 Australians underwent knee replacement due to osteoarthritis.
Joint replacement is often seen as something inevitable and “necessary.” However, most people can effectively manage their symptoms through exercise, physical activity, and weight management.
The modern guidelines (known as the “standard of care”) recommend that joint replacement surgery should only be considered for people with severe symptoms who have already tried non-surgical treatments.
I have knee osteoarthritis. What should I do?
This standard of care links to free, evidence-based resources to support people with osteoarthritis. These include:
If you suffer from osteoarthritis, you can benefit from standard of care to be able to communicate with your doctor and make informed decisions about your care.
