According to New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer, knee pain is a very common problem. The pain can be the result of a minor injury, which can be healed in days, or the pain can be chronic and last a lifetime. Sufferers from chronic knee pain are always looking for ways to lessen their pain.
Many orthopedic specialists recommend injections of hyaluronic acid into the knee joint to help reduce knee pain. Hyaluronic acid is used is because it’s the same fluid that lubricates and cushions the joint. The idea behind this course of treatment is that knee pain is primarily caused by the absence of the hyaluronic acid that is produced by the body naturally and by adding more, it will replace what has been lost.
Even though this procedure is often prescribed, some trials have indicated that it actually has little or no effect on pain in the knee.
Your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon finds that the most common – and successful – method of relieving knee pain is diet and exercise. Exercise can be challenging for a person who experiences pain with every step they take, but walking and running is not the only form of exercise that can benefit the patient.
Low impact aerobics and water exercises have also shown to improve the pain levels of knee pain. Diet is just as important as exercise as well because being overweight adds stress to the knee. By losing weight, knee pain can be alleviated.
If the pain is so intense that the patient can’t perform normal activities, then surgery to replace the knee joint is usually recommended. Knee replacement surgery has now become quite common, with orthopedic surgeons performing this procedure over 600,000 times a year.
The choice to undergo this type of surgery is something that a patient and surgeon need to decide together. There are no standard criteria that a patient needs to meet in order to have knee replacement surgery. Your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon will conduct a series of tests to determine if surgery is the best solution.
If knee replacement surgery is recommended, don’t put it off – putting it off can result in more problems and more pain.
Knee pain impacts almost every activity a person does. If you are having any type of discomfort – don’t wait until it is too late – call the office of New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer today to Schedule a Consultation