If you’ve suffered from one or more dislocations of your knee, causing it to become chronically unstable, your patella may be misaligned. Traditional surgery involves opening the knee, but there’s a less invasive option.
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) can affect your every move: walking, climbing stairs, even sitting or lying down. Surgery performed by a knee replacement doctor in the Bay Area can help bring relief. It may be time to have knee replacement surgery if you have the following symptoms.
Are you experiencing severe knee pain that limits your everyday activities? Do you have moderate or severe knee pain while resting, day or night? Are you getting no pain relief from over-the-counter NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) or stronger NSAIDs available by prescription? Are you unable to tolerate NSAIDS? An orthopedic surgeon in San Francisco would advise you to schedule an appointment for an examination.
Perhaps you’re experiencing long-lasting knee inflammation and swelling that hasn’t gotten better with medications, either with NSAIDS or more intense therapies involving injections such as; 1) cortisone shots to fight inflammation and offer pain relief in conjunction with, 2) hyaluronic acid to boost the natural joint fluid that keeps knees moving smoothly. An orthopedic doctor in San Francisco may suggest considering knee replacement surgery.
If you have tried all other osteoarthritis treatment options and still have knee pain, your orthopedic doctor in San Francisco may suggest knee replacement. It can help reduce your pain and improve your ability to move.
Knee replacement surgery involves removing all or part of the knee joint and replacing the damaged parts with an artificial joint. These are made of metals and plastics.
It may take months to recover fully, but the relief can last many years or even a lifetime.
Exercise and Physical Therapy
Exercise strengthens the muscles that support your knee. Physical therapy also helps. A physical therapist can design the program for you and see if you need supportive braces, splints, or canes. If you need to lose weight, diet and exercise can help you shed some pounds and take some of the pressure off your knees.
Weight Loss
Every excess pound you carry puts an extra 3 pounds of pressure on your knees. If your need for knee replacement surgery is imminent, your chances of success are much greater if you lose extra weight before surgery and during rehabilitation.
Are the treatment options you’ve been using for knee osteoarthritis not providing enough relief to keep you moving comfortably? Have they become less effective over time, or are you unable to tolerate them any longer?
Contact Dr. Jeffrey Halbrecht for a consultation.
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