Are You Considering Knee Surgery?
Many people find that as they age, their knees become weaker and more painful. This is not too surprising since a majority of your weight is going to be on your knees. If your knees are beginning to hurt, you may be wondering if knee surgery is going to be the option that is right for you. While there are certain instances where knee surgery may be the only way to repair serious damage, there are actually many options you may have before going down the route of surgery. Remember, surgery itself can cause permanent damage, have side effects, or may not produce the results that you are looking for.
Common Alternatives to Surgery
- Chiropractic Care. Chiropractic care has been known to help many people who are suffering from different pain in the body, including knee pain. In fact, many people think chiropractors only help with back pain but this is not true. Knee pain can also stem from a misalignment in your foot or your back and once your chiropractor corrects this misalignment you may notice immediate relief.
- Correcting an Inflammatory Diet. If you eat particularly inflammatory foods, you may want to discuss your diet with your knee doctor. While this may not completely eliminate your pain, you may find that it begins to reduce it. You may discuss incorporating more omega-three-filled foods and vegetables while reducing your overall intake of sugar.
- Knee Injections. Doctors may utilize different types of injections for knee pain as well. For example, platelet-rich plasma injections allow you to use your body’s own natural healing properties. Stem cell injections can also help your body begin rebuilding cartilage to use that can help ease your pain. Additionally, hyaluronic acid injections can give your knee joints the lubrication they need so the bones are no longer rubbing against each other and causing you severe pain.
It may not be hard for you to make the decision to get help for your knee pain. However, it may be difficult to know which solution is right for you. When you are thinking that your only option is surgery, you should consider reaching out to a local doctor, like a knee surgeon from a practice like Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania. They can point you in the direction that will be best for you and can discuss the different alternatives to surgery. Reach out to a local practice now.