If you have an injury that may require surgery, it's usually not necessary to have the operation immediately. Some studies have found that PRP may benefit certain people with osteoarthritis, but more studies are needed. PRP contains a concentration of many different growth factors that appear to reduce inflammation and promote healing. Although study results have been mixed about the effectiveness of this treatment, relief from one or a series of shots may last as long as six months. A thick fluid, similar to the fluid that naturally lubricates joints, hyaluronic acid can be injected into your knee to improve mobility and ease pain. These injections aren't effective in all cases. Injections of a corticosteroid drug into your knee joint may help reduce the symptoms of an arthritis flare and provide pain relief that may last a few months. In some cases, your doctor may suggest injecting medications or other substances directly into your joint. In certain conditions, different types of braces may be used to help protect and support the knee joint. Exercises to improve your flexibility and balance also are important.Īrch supports, sometimes with wedges on one side of the heel, can help shift pressure away from the side of the knee most affected by osteoarthritis. If you are physically active or practice a sport, you may need exercises to correct movement patterns that may be affecting your knees and to establish good technique during your sport or activity. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy or different types of strengthening exercises based on the specific condition that is causing your pain. Strengthening the muscles around your knee will make it more stable. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help relieve pain and to treat the conditions causing your knee pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout. Treatments will vary, depending upon what exactly is causing your knee pain. If your doctor suspects an infection or inflammation, you're likely to have blood tests and sometimes a procedure called arthrocentesis, in which a small amount of fluid is removed from within your knee joint with a needle and sent to a laboratory for analysis. This test is particularly useful in revealing injuries to soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, cartilage and muscles. An MRI uses radio waves and a powerful magnet to create 3D images of the inside of your knee. Your doctor may want to move your knee into different positions during the ultrasound to check for specific problems. This technology uses sound waves to produce real-time images of the soft tissue structures within and around your knee. A special kind of CT scan can accurately identify gout even when the joint is not inflamed. CT scans can help diagnose bone problems and subtle fractures. CT scanners combine X-rays taken from many different angles to create cross-sectional images of the inside of your body. Your doctor may first recommend having an X-ray, which can help detect bone fractures and degenerative joint disease. In some cases, your doctor might suggest tests such as:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |