Osteoarthritis of the knee is the deterioration of the protective cartilage in the knee joint. Cartilage is a tough, elastic tissue that covers and cushions the ends of bones within a joint, allowing them to move past each other during movement without the bones grating against one another.
However, when this special tissue in the knee wears down, it can lead to knee pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility in the joint. This wearing-down can be caused by overuse of the knee while playing a sport, normal use of the knee over time due to aging, or excessive pressure on the cartilage due to being overweight.
Knee pain from arthritis can be debilitating, so efforts should be made to slow down the progression of the condition. Let’s talk about knee pain treatment that works, and where you can go in Jacksonville for professional medical pain management the natural way.
How Can I Control the Pain of Knee Arthritis?
The key ways in which you can tackle knee arthritis without surgery or medication include the following:
Physical Therapy
An integral part of any arthritis treatment program is physical therapy. Exercises for knee osteoarthritis usually focus on strengthening the muscles surrounding the affected joint so less strain is placed on it. They also help to increase circulation, which is beneficial for tissue healing.
Viscosupplementation
Viscosupplementation treatment for knee arthritis involves the physician-administered injection of hyaluronic acid directly into the knee joint. The purpose of this is to provide natural lubrication and thereby reducing the bone-on-bone friction that causes pain and inflammation.
With greater lubrication, the knee joint has more cushioning during movement. This enables you to move more freely, including engaging in exercise, without knee osteoarthritis symptoms flaring up.
Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the body, so an injection of extra hyaluronic acid into your knee can give you much more mobility and flexibility. This treatment is FDA-approved and considered safe to treat knee osteoarthritis.
The Dangers of Medication and Corticosteroid Injections
If you are considering the various knee pain treatments for osteoarthritis, you will hear about medication and corticosteroid injections. Medications to treat knee osteoarthritis are usually prescription-strength NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or antidepressants, but both of these treatment modalities come with adverse side effects.
Corticosteroid injections, which are often used to treat knee arthritis, can also be harmful. Repeated cortisone shots have been shown to cause cartilage loss, which goes against what you are trying to do in knee arthritis treatment. Moreover, cortisone tends to crystallize within the body, which can lead to more pain and inflammation.
Natural Treatments for Knee Pain in Jacksonville
Our healthcare providers at NIVA Health know how painful knee osteoarthritis can be, and we strive to offer only natural treatments for our patients – no medication, and no surgery. We offer viscosupplementation and a personalized treatment plan that provides long-lasting relief from arthritis pain.
We invite you to learn more about our natural knee pain treatments. To schedule a consultation with one of our providers, call our facility nearest you or use our convenient appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you live a more pain-free lifestyle!
