My Knee Arthritis Is Getting Worse — Can I Avoid Surgery?

Nearly one in five Americans is living with knee arthritis. A type of osteoarthritis, knee arthritis develops over the years as the cartilage that cushions your bones starts to break down.

Knee arthritis causes pain, stiffness, and swelling. It makes daily tasks difficult, and unfortunately, symptoms tend to worsen over time. As your knee arthritis progresses, you might be wondering if joint surgery is inevitable.

The good news? You can do a lot to manage knee arthritis and potentially avoid surgery. Juan Egas, MD, and our team at LeHeal Biogenix HQ, LLC, are here to help.

Here are a few treatments we recommend to help you delay the need for surgery — or even avoid it completely.

Exercise regularly

Although exercise might be the last thing on your mind when you’re in pain, it’s an essential part of managing knee arthritis. Regular exercise helps strengthen the muscles surrounding your knee joint, improve flexibility, and reduce pain and stiffness.

We often recommend low-impact exercises like swimming, cycling, and walking. Before you start a new workout plan, remember to consult with your healthcare team to get recommendations that are tailored to your specific needs.

Maintain a healthy weight

Being overweight puts extra pressure on your knee joint, which can worsen your arthritis symptoms. Fortunately, losing even a few pounds can make a difference. If you’re carrying excess weight, we may recommend regular exercise and a healthy diet to support weight loss and improve your overall health.

Use assistive devices

An assistive device, like a cane, brace, or shoe insert, can help to reduce pressure on your knee joint and improve function. A cane offers stability and support when walking, while a brace can help stabilize your knee joint. Shoe inserts can help correct biomechanical issues that may be contributing to your knee arthritis.

Consider platelet-rich plasma injections

At LeHeal Biogenix, we specialize in nonsurgical pain management for arthritis. One of our most popular treatments is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.

PRP therapy uses platelets, growth factors, and other healing elements found in your own blood. We create a custom serum from a blood sample and inject it directly into your knee. The serum stimulates healing in your joint to reduce arthritis symptoms over time.

Try other regenerative injection therapies

PRP therapy isn’t the only regenerative therapy we offer at LeHeal Biogenix. In fact, regenerative injection therapy (RIT) includes any type of treatment that uses natural ingredients to stimulate your body’s natural healing process. Depending on your condition, we may recommend stem cell therapy, peptide therapy, or another type of RIT.

Consider surgery as a last resort

Lifestyle changes and regenerative medicine can be extremely effective for knee arthritis. But sometimes, these nonsurgical treatments aren’t enough.

If you’ve tried conservative treatments and regenerative therapies without relief, it might be time to consider surgery for your knee arthritis. Surgery can offer long-lasting pain relief and enhance your quality of life, so talk to your doctor to determine if it’s a good option for you.

Knee arthritis can be debilitating, but it doesn’t mean surgery is inevitable. Schedule a pain management consultation with Dr. Robinson and our team at LeHeal Biogenix to get a customized arthritis treatment plan for your unique needs.