What causes knee pain?
Knee pain is one of the most common types of musculoskeletal conditions and has numerous causes.
Acute injuries like ligament and cartilage tears from playing sports are a frequent source of knee pain, as are conditions like bursitis, tendinitis, and patellar (kneecap) instability.
Chronic knee pain is most likely to be due to some kind of arthritis. This group of diseases causes incurable joint pain that often gets worse over time. Osteoarthritis, which affects mainly older people, is the type you're most likely to get.
How is arthritis-related knee pain treated?
Treatment options for arthritis-related knee pain include:
- Activity modification
- Knee bracing
- Physical therapy
- Steroid injections into the joint
- Genicular nerve block
- Acupuncture
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
- Stem cell therapy
- Nerve ablation
At TruWell Health, you can also take advantage of their revolutionary nonsurgical viscosupplementation therapy.
What is viscosupplementation therapy for knee pain?
Viscosupplementation therapy involves having injections of hyaluronates into your knee to supplement your body's natural lubricating joint fluid. Better joint lubrication means reduced inflammation, and therefore less pain. It's a highly effective method of treating osteoarthritis pain in your knees.
Your provider at TruWell Health uses state-of-the-art fluoroscopy technology — a kind of moving X-ray — to guide the placement of the injection in a straightforward outpatient procedure.
After your injection, you take part in physical therapy, which helps the viscosupplementation to spread through your knee joint. Physical therapy is also an important treatment for keeping the soft tissues strong and supple when you have arthritis.
You might also need to wear a knee brace.
How does a knee brace help my knee pain?
TruWell Health uses a special type of brace called an unloading knee brace. This is a supportive device that increases the space in your joint to reduce pressure on your kneecap and the cartilage in your knee.
This effect is called unloading, and as well as reducing joint strain, it helps the viscosupplementation to bond with the natural synovial fluid in your knee.
TruWell Health uses braces that are fully adjustable to provide optimal fit and support. They also have cushioning so you can wear them for extended periods without discomfort, and they fit underneath your pants for inconspicuous wear.
The combination of viscosupplementation, physical therapy, and using an unloading knee brace can improve your mobility and reduce knee pain significantly.
Call TruWell Health today for more information or book an appointment online.
