Knee Replacement Gives Retiree Her Life Back and absorb shock within the knee joint, are also options. According to Franciscan Health orthopedic surgeon William Payne, MD, the standard approach for new patients is to first employ conservative treatments, suchas anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and exercise. “The key thing is to do the conservative treatment for three months in an effort to preserve the joints,”Dr. Payne said.“But if the arthritis worsens and conservative treatment fails, we recommend surgery as soon as possible to expedite that patient’s return to his or her lifestyle.” Knee Replacement Surgery Doctors perform more than 800,000 knee and hip replacements every year, and that number is expected to grow. New materials for artificial knees and hips can last 25 to 30 years. With joint Even if you aren’t an athlete, your joints suffer normal wear and tear. An estimated 54.4 million adults in the United States have doctordiagnosed arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the common wear-and-tear form of arthritis, where the cartilage cushioning the joints gradually breaks down. The process can lead to inflammation, pain and stiffness; eventually, bones may start rubbing against each other, causing more joint damage and disability. Fortunately, osteoarthritis sufferers have effective treatment options for arthritis in the knee available to them. Treating Knee Arthritis Without Surgery There is no cure for osteoarthritis, and treatment for arthritis in the knee involves managing the symptoms through weight loss, exercise and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like, ibuprofen and naproxen. Injections of corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation, or sodium hyaluronate, which helps lubricate By Franciscan Health Indiana Golf Journal
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