What Is the Best Treatment for Osteoarthritis in Your Knees?

When it comes to knee pain, there is a multitude of causes and contributing factors. A more prevalent cause of knee pain is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis in the knee occurs when the cartilage between the knee joints breaks down, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Treatment Methods for Osteoarthritis Knee Pain

Several treatment options are available if you struggle with knee pain and stiffness due to osteoarthritis. From exercise to surgery, there are numerous ways to reduce your chronic pain and swelling. Learn more about each of these treatment options here:

Exercise

While it may seem difficult, exercising is one of the best ways to relieve osteoarthritis pain. Leading an active lifestyle and getting regular exercise can actually minimize inflammation and swelling over time, leading to less pain and stiffness in your knees.

Medication

One of the most common ways to treat osteoarthritis knee pain is with medication. Anti-inflammatories and other medications can minimize swelling and reduce your knee pain, making it easier to move around and stay active.

Weight Loss

Many people see exacerbated osteoarthritis symptoms due to excess weight. If you are overweight, you are increasing the pressure on your knees every time you walk. By losing weight and getting in better shape, you can reduce this pressure and decrease the severity of your symptoms.

Injections

Another popular osteoarthritis treatment is injectable steroids. When you have corticosteroids injected directly into the affected knee, you can experience a decrease in swelling that leads to more manageable pain levels.

Surgery

If other methods of treatment do not resolve your knee pain, you may need surgical intervention. During osteoarthritis arthroscopic surgery, debris and bone fragments can be removed to preserve healthy joint tissue and relieve some compression on the joint.

Alternative Options

There are several different alternative treatments that can relieve osteoarthritis knee pain. This includes Botox injections, acupuncture, yoga and meditation, heat packs, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Some patients are discovering regenerative medicine options. Regenerative medicine is a rapidly developing field that aims to potentially restore or replace damaged tissues through the use of stem cells, growth factors, and other innovative techniques. Osteoarthritis is a common condition that can cause knee pain, and regenerative medicine approaches have shown promise in addressing this condition.

One promising approach is the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are multipotent cells that can differentiate into different cell types, including bone, cartilage, and fat cells.

Another approach is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which involves drawing a patient’s blood, processing it to concentrate the platelets, and then injecting the concentrated platelets into the knee joint. Platelets contain growth factors that can stimulate tissue repair and regeneration.

Managing Osteoarthritis Knee Pain

Are you struggling with chronic pain and stiffness due to osteoarthritis in your knees? Speak with your physician about your treatment options so that you can figure out what works for you and what doesn’t.

It is important to remember that every person is different and will respond to each treatment in their own way. Some methods may be effective for you, while others may not make any difference. Beginning a personalized treatment plan can help you start your journey toward healing and relief.

This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for osteoarthritis, also known as Stem Cell Therapy for Osteoarthritis. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.