Pain Management Treatments Your Doctor Might Recommend For Arthritis Knee Pain

Knee pain from arthritis can be a real problem and affect your mobility. It's no fun to suffer with pain every time you take a step. Your knee bears your full weight, so this makes walking difficult when you have arthritis in your knee. However, you don't want to become sedentary because that can have health complications. Your orthopedist may eventually recommend surgery, but until then, your doctor might try different pain management techniques. Here are some treatments that might help your knee pain.

A Knee Brace Or Cane 

A knee brace supports your knee and may help with pain relief. You may go to a physical therapist to learn how to tape your knee or apply a brace when you run, walk, or engage in activity. You might also need to wear arch supports or another orthotic device so that your hips, knees, and feet are more properly aligned. In addition, a cane or walker can take some pressure off your knee while you walk and allow you to get more exercise than you would if you used a wheelchair or remained sedentary.

Corticosteroid Injections

Steroids injected directly into your knee can help reduce inflammation and stiffness in your joints. The pain relief you experience varies. You might notice a reduction in pain for several weeks or months. However, your doctor may limit the number of injections you can have, so damage to your cartilage doesn't escalate because of the injections.

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation

Electrical nerve stimulation can sometimes help with knee pain and reduce your need for pain medication. You can do these treatments at home with a small device that connects to your knee with skin patches. The device sends a small electrical current through your skin that can block nerve pain from arthritis. The current might also cause your body to release natural painkillers.

Hyaluronic Acid Injections

When you have osteoarthritis, the cartilage in your knee wears down to where bones scrape bones when you walk. One treatment that might help is for your doctor to inject hyaluronic acid into your knee. Hyaluronic acid works as a lubricant for your knee joint so bones can glide over each other without causing pain. You may need multiple injections to get optimal relief of pain. These treatments won't cure your knee problem, but they might help with pain management.

In addition to these types of knee pain management, your doctor may also prescribe medications that treat your arthritis, reduce inflammation, and reduce pain. As long as your pain is managed so you can lead an active life, you might be able to avoid having knee replacement surgery.