Knee replacement surgery is a major operation with a lengthy rehabilitation. Many people choose to undergo the invasive surgery only as a last resort, after all other treatments fail and knee pain prevents them from walking. For patients who choose to avoid the surgery as long as possible, alternative treatments may help. Some patients opt for good nutrition and supplements as possible fixes.
Know Your Pain Cause
Knee pain results most often from injuries or arthritis. Injuries usually include a ligament or a cartilage tear. Arthritis can be either chronic inflammation or it can be the deterioration of the cartilage surrounding the knee. That wear and tear on the cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other. Additional causes of knee pain range from gout to bursitis. Doctors may prescribe pain medications or cortisone injections before suggesting surgery. Some doctors may suggest alternative treatments.
Start with Nutrition
The patient who wants to avoid knee surgery can start with a lifestyle modification. For someone who's overweight, that means weight loss. Extra weight puts more pressure on the knees and aggravates pain. In fact, one study found that obese people have twice the risk of developing osteoarthritis compared to people at normal weights. Another study found that losing 10 pounds makes a big difference in reducing knee pain and increasing mobility.
Supplements for Knee Pain
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate top the list of alternative pills for knee pain. They are dietary supplements. Glucosamine is a natural building block of cartilage and may help to repair it. Chondroitin sulfate may make cartilage more elastic and spongy. It is unclear how the supplements work and whether they slow the disease. Patients should be careful about the supplements they buy and get a physician's recommendation, since supplements are not regulated by the federal government. Studies about their effectiveness are mixed.
Other Supplements
Vitamin D may also help patients with knee pain. Low levels of vitamin D are linked to cartilage loss. Researchers are trying to find out if vitamin D can delay the loss of cartilage and prevent knee replacement. Blood tests can determine if patients have sufficient vitamin D levels. Ginger extract may also help reduce the pain of osteoarthritis in the knee, but it may have side effects. Oils from avocados and soybeans, when mixed and taken orally, may slow the deterioration of cartilage and rev up cartilage repair in knee joints.
References
- Dr. Howard J. Luks: Alternatives to Knee Surgery
- Reuters: Vitamin D May Help Prevent Knee Osteoarthritis
- Mayo Clinic: Knee Pain Causes
- Mayo Clinic: Knee Pain Alternative Medicine
- Anne Arundel Medical Center: Exercise, Nutrition and Alternative Therapies
- Mayo Clinic: Osteoarthritis Alternative Medicine
