Surgical knee replacement is sometimes unavoidable, especially when the knee joint has irreversibly deteriorated or been damaged severely. Alternatives to knee replacement should be thoroughly explored before resorting to surgery.
Many different kinds of knee pain issues can be successfully treated with nonsurgical methods that restore strength and integrity to ligaments, bones, and tissues comprising the knee joint. This article will describe common causes of knee pain and the noninvasive treatments we offer to help you avoid the expense and lengthy recovery time associated with knee replacement surgery.
Knee joint osteoarthritis affects over half of all people over 65 years of age. Developing from simple wear and tear of the knee joints, osteoarthritis involves thinning of the protective cartilage that prevents bones from scraping against each other. Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis include pain during and after knee movement, stiffness, swelling, and reduced flexibility.
The meniscus is a piece of tissue located between the surfaces of knee bone cartilage. It is vital for stabilizing the knee joint and equally distributing body weight when you are standing, walking, or running. Athletes and weight trainers are vulnerable to suffering meniscus tears. However, anyone who rotates or twists their knee while putting their full weight on that knee can also experience a torn meniscus. Signs of a meniscus tear include popping sensations, stiffness, swelling, pain, and weakness.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries involve the knee ligament that connects a section of the tibia to a section of the femur. Symptoms of an ACL tear include severe pain, rapid swelling, inability to move the knee due to pain, and knee instability. ACL tears are serious knee injuries that require proper treatment to avoid long-term knee problems.
Patellar tendonitis is the clinical name of the most common type of knee tendinitis. Sometimes called "jumper's knee", tendinitis of the knee joint occurs when jumping, running, or other leg movement exerts forceful pressure on knee tendons and causes inflammation. In addition, people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may suffer from chronic tendinitis as a result of continual joint inflammation.
Houston's Spine and Rehab Centers provide the best knee replacement alternatives in the area. These include but are not limited to:
Did you know that when you walk on level ground, the weight put on your knees is near twice that of your body weight? For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, then every time you take a step, you are forcing your knees to support almost 300 pounds. Losing 10 or 15 pounds can reduce a significant load of pressure on your knees. Not only can exercising and losing weight help treat symptoms of osteoarthritis, but it will also accelerate recovery from ACL and meniscus tears.
Our physical therapy program involves evidence-based exercises and training activities designed to strengthen knee muscles and tendons, improve bilateral coordination, and lose weight. Closed kinetic chain and isokinetic exercises are especially beneficial to restoring knee joint health following a meniscus or ACL tear injury.
Nonsurgical pain management methods offered at Spine and Rehab Centers in Houston and surrounding areas include safe and effective knee joint pain injections that can be repeated on an as-needed basis and procedures such as radiofrequency ablation to ease the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis.
Providing Greater Houston and The Woodlands residents with exceptional, individualized care and treatment of most pain conditions, Houston Spine and Rehab is renowned for having the best diagnostic methods available in Houston. In addition, all new patients receive a free reviews of patient MRIs.
To schedule a consultation about knee replacement alternatives, contact one of our Houston, The Woodlands, Sugarland, or Cypress offices: Contact Spine and Rehab Centers
Monday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Friday: 8:00am – 1:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
