What can I do 

about my knee pain?

By ShareMD Connect

Treatment plans for knee pain vary depending on the cause of the pain. With so many possible causes of knee pain, including arthritis, a knee injury, or mechanical problems, understanding the root cause of the pain is essential for an effective treatment plan.

Regardless of the cause, untreated knee pain can disrupt your daily life and impact your overall quality of life. The good news is that there are ways to reduce pain and prevent further damage for many causes of knee pain, so understanding your treatment options is important.

Nonsurgical treatments:

Typically, for most knee pain, it is recommended to try non-surgical treatments before surgery that may include:

  • Activity modification: may keep joint pain and inflammation from flaring. Modifications may include avoiding high-impact exercise, such as running and jumping. Engaging in low-impact exercises and remaining physically active is also key to managing symptoms.
  • Physical therapy: this type of nonsurgical intervention can help improve strength and range of motion.
  • Weight loss: reduces the stress placed on the joint. For overweight and obese adults with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, the recommendation is to aim for a minimum of 10% weight loss.
  • Bracing: may provide more stability to the joint. A simple soft brace could help provide comfort and stability and possibly improve pain. Although research has been mixed in proving a clear benefit, there is certainly no harm in trying it.
  • Medications: ibuprofen for inflammation or acetaminophen for pain can often help provide knee pain relief. There are also many topical agents on the market (i.e., Diclofenac gel or Capsaicin cream) that can help provide relief, as well as other prescription medications that you may not have considered. It is important to discuss which over-the-counter or prescription medications would be best for you with your medical provider.
  • Injections: corticosteroid injections can help control pain and inflammation and promote healing.
  • Walking aids: utilizing a cane or walker can help provide support and help prevent falls.
  • Orthotics: insoles or special footwear can decrease the loading stress of the knee compartment. No specific insole or footwear brand has shown benefit over another in research thus far.
  • Psychological interventions: evidence has shown that psychological interventions, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can significantly improve pain and physical and psychological disability in patients suffering from chronic joint pain.
  • Investigational: other nonsurgical options currently being researched include Hyaluronic Acid (Viscosupplementation), PRP (Platelet rich plasma), acupuncture, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and some nutritional supplements.
Surgical Options:

If nonsurgical treatments are unable to provide adequate pain relief and improve mobility, it may be time to discuss surgical options with your orthopedist, such as:

  • Total knee replacement: one of the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures, also known as total knee arthroplasty. During this surgical procedure, parts of the knee joint are replaced with artificial implants to provide more long-term stability and pain reduction. A minimally invasive total knee replacement is a variation of this approach where the surgeon uses a shorter incision (typically 4 to 6 inches versus 8 to 10 inches for a traditional knee replacement) and a different, less-invasive technique to expose the joint—to help reduce postoperative pain and speeding recovery. Generally, candidates for minimal incision procedures are younger, healthier, and more motivated to participate in rehabilitation than traditional surgery patients. Minimally invasive surgeries may be less suitable for patients who are overweight or who have already undergone other knee surgeries. In addition, patients with a significant deformity of the knee, those who are very muscular, and those with health problems that may slow wound healing may be at a higher risk for problems from minimally invasive total knee replacement. Current evidence suggests that the long-term benefits of minimally invasive surgery do not differ from those of knee replacement performed with the traditional approach.
  • Partial knee replacement/resurfacing: involves replacing only one part of the knee joint. This may be an option for people with knee pain that is limited to only one compartment of the knee and is a common treatment option for osteoarthritis patients. Total and partial knee replacement are both effective surgical options, offering similar results, and have similar re-operation and complication rates at the 5-year mark. Patient satisfaction rates are significantly higher for partial knee replacement than for total knee replacement, but more research is underway to determine long-term comparisons.
  • Knee osteotomy: re-aligns the bones. If knee pain, like osteoarthritis, has damaged one side of your knee more than the other, this procedure might be helpful. In a knee osteotomy, a surgeon cuts across the bone either above or below the knee and then removes or adds a wedge of bone. This shifts your body weight away from the worn-out part of your knee. This surgical option may be an alternative for younger patients with a certain type of knee deformity or condition.
  • Arthroscopy: a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which the inside of a joint can be repaired through small surgical incisions in the skin. Arthroscopy is only helpful for certain types of knee problems and has not demonstrated significant benefits for patients with osteoarthritis.

If you’ve been dealing with chronic knee pain, seeing an orthopedic knee specialist as soon as possible to evaluate the cause of your knee pain is the first step to getting on the road to improving your pain and quality of life. 

Have more questions about treatment options or navigating orthopedic care? Schedule a free call with a registered nurse specializing in orthopedics from ShareMD's Nurse Education Team.