What are My Alternatives to Knee Replacement Surgery?

Dr. Dan Albright of Raleigh Orthopedic Clinic talks about alternatives to knee replacement surgery.

Transcript of video:

What are my alternatives to knee replacement surgery or total joint surgery for the knee?

Of course, you always want to do everything you can to put off surgery as best you can. And that involves:

One, losing weight. People who are, whatever, with a lot of extra pounds there is a lot of extra force on your knee. That simply losing weight helps knee pain, that's proven. It's hard to lose weight, but the people who are able to lose weight - knee pain gets way better.

Walking in a pool is good. Pool therapy or physical therapy in the gym - toning your muscles around the knee is good. The better muscle tone, muscle mass you have, the more shock absorption you have, the better your knee feels. It does not cure arthritis, but your knee functions better.

Tylenol is good. Acetametaphin is not an anti-inflammatory. Then, of course, there are anti-inflammatories, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Naprosyn, Aspirin - those are excellent. You need to do that with your doctor because if you have ulcers, stomach ulcers, or kidney troubles then anti-inflammatories can be harmful.

You want to avoid abuse. Abuse for the knee would be jumping, pounding, running - that's just not good for a knee joint that is starting to wear out and starting to lose cartilage. Low impact is good - swimming, biking, elliptical, weights. Those are the main things.

Then injections. There's is a lot of hype out there so be careful. There's a lot of marketing - almost scams. So be careful what you spend your money on. Steroid cortisone shots are useful. I believe we get great relief with that. There is also hyaluronic acid or gel shots. That has a lot of attention in the press. They have some roles also. So injections have a role - talk with your doctor about that.

If you have further interest in this I am happy to talk to you any time. It is important to explore all non-surgery choices first before you move ahead with knee replacement surgery.

Thanks.

Schedule an appointment - 919-863-6808

[davidstrong]

I found a knee brace that heats up and massages, very useful and cheap. It’s hard to find good PT but hospitals seem to have the best ones. It’s so important to strengthen your hips!

[johnormsby]

For the last 10yrs, as a now 71yr old, everything from losing weight to supplements, I've done! In 2014, I damaged my left meniscus & after countless visits to my Orthopaedic Surgeon, I sat down for a final consultation/decision on what needed to be done & the News wasn't great. Dr Kevin Karpik gave me two alternatives 1: To undergo a double Knee & double Hip replacement or 2: Don't have anything done & within 12mths I'd be a cripple! I elected to only have my meniscus removed by Keyhole surgery. Long story short, I'm not a cripple after 10yrs, nor am I in pain! I never visit the doctor, never take prescribed medication or painkillers. Everything is with good diet exercise & the right supplementation👍

[KingsDaughter]

Neither steroid nor gel injections helped my bone-on-bone; ended up with Total Knee Replacement June 2023. Brutal first week, gradually improving as the weeks go by.

[paulneri]

Ok, no big deal but you didn't specifically mention braces. Mine doesn't seem to do anything for my knee except keep it warm!