Alternative Knee Replacement: What are the Options

If you want relief from the chronic pain and swelling of osteoarthritis without surgery, you may be seeking an alternative knee replacement. After all, some people aren't good candidates for surgery. And others may prefer to delay a knee replacement, since artificial knees are unlikely to last longer than 20 years.

Now, it's important to remember that arthritis can't be cured. But you can relieve pain and swelling, and preserve your mobility, often without surgery. Here's what you need to know.

Home Remedies for Arthritis Knee Pain

Certain lifestyle measures can help relieve knee pain due to osteoarthritis as an alternative knee replacement. First, consider losing weight, as this will relieve some of the stress and pressure on your knee joints. This can also help delay the destruction of cartilage in your knee.

Engaging in low impact exercise, such as swimming or walking on a treadmill, can help you maintain mobility and limit stiffness. And, for many people, over-the-counter medications, including NSAIDs (nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatories) can help manage pain and inflammation, as long as your doctor clears you to use this category of medication.

Alternative Knee Replacement Treatments

Several medical interventions can temporarily relieve osteoarthritis knee pain while still allowing you to avoid surgery. Some patients will benefit from shots of cortisone or hyaluronic acid, because they can relieve inflammation and improve joint lubrication. The effects of these injections typically last a few months.

However for relief that lasts a year or more, patients may prefer to schedule genicular artery embolization, or GAE, an alternative knee replacement that relieves osteoarthritis related knee pain by reducing blood flow to the knee joint. This relieves pain and inflammation, and can even slow disease progression, helping you avoid or delay knee replacement surgery.

Ready to see if GAE is the right option to relieve your knee pain? If you have moderate to severe osteoarthritis knee pain, are between the ages of 40 and 80, and haven't found relief from conservative arthritis treatments, you may be a GAE candidate. Click here to request an appointmentClick here to request an appointmentClick here to request an appointment with the Texas Knee Institute, so we can discuss your options!