9 Ways to Treat Knee Arthritis
September 2018

Osteoarthritis is a common patient complaint, affecting more than 3 million Americans every year.  OA cannot be cured, but there are treatment options that can help to ease the pain of arthritis.    Speak to one of our physicians if you would like to learn about more treatment options for your specific condition.  

Here are some of our tips to help treat your arthritis of the knee:

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a treatment that comes from Chinese medicine.  During this procedure thin needles get placed on meridian lines in the body.  Acupuncture may be able to help relieve pain associated with arthritis and other chronic pain. 

TENS Machines
A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device (TENS) offers weak currents of electricity on the skin.  This stops the pain receptors from sending pain signals to the brain and can help you to feel a reduction of pain.  This is not an appropriate treatment for OA in multiple joints or parts of the body but may help with simple OA of the knee.  

Knee Braces
Using a knee brace helps to improve knee function and reduce pain when moving.  There are no side effects from using knee braces.  It's important to find a provider who can fit you properly for a knee brace to see the best results.  

Topical Medications
Topical medications can provide patients with the pain relief they are desiring but without the gastroenterological effects that many medications come with.  The medication is put on the injury or painful area on the body and it does not travel through the stomach.  This is a great option for someone with OA of one knee.  It only works for one location at a time.  You may already be familiar with brands such as Voltaran gel and Pennasid.

Exercise
Finding time to exercise can help strengthen you muscles and joints as well as increase your range of flexibility and motion.  Pool exercises are especially good for arthritis sufferers or any exercise that is easy on the joints.  

Platelet-Rich Plasma (“PRP”) injections
PRP injections are a great regenerative medicine option that can accelerate healing in your body and cushion your knee.  Stem cells and platelets can help you get back to normal more quickly than other options. When we do PRP injections in our office we draw blood from the patient which gets spun down in a centrifuge. The injection only takes from 1-2 hours to complete. This process is great for people suffering with ligament or tendon tears, joint weakness, muscle strains or fibrosis and arthritis and tendinitis.

Amniotic Stem Cell Injections
Amniotic stem cell injections have a high concentration of stem cells, proteins, cytokines and other important compounds. This can assist in reducing inflammation and scarring in your body.  These injections have no risk of side effects.  They also naturally include hyaluronic acid which is that fluid occurring in the knee.  This makes the knee feel better and provides a cushion.  This treatment is great for those suffering with Osteoarthritis, soft tissue injuries, Achilles tears, tendon or ligament tears, sacroiliac pain, any joint related pain, tennis or golfer’s elbow, rotator cuff injuries, hip and low back pain.

Hyaluronic acid injections
This is the acid that is naturally occurring in the knee.  These injections will help you to feel some cushion and reduce knee pain.  

Health Weight
Weight is a big risk factor in developing arthritis.  Being overweight puts extra pressure on the joints causing them to deteriorate faster.  Keeping a healthy diet and a daily exercise program is a good way to keep your knee pain at bay.