Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a common joint condition estimated to affect up to 30%[1] or 3 in 10 individuals in India. Risk factors include being female, obesity, age (above 40), and lack of physical activity.
Associated with the gradual wearing out of the cartilage, knee OA causes pain, stiffness, inflammation, and impaired movement. Walking, climbing stairs, standing, and other routine activities may become challenging.
Many patients wonder: “Is it possible to treat knee osteoarthritis without surgery?”
The good news is – Yes. Individuals in the early stages of OA may be able to effectively manage the condition without knee replacement surgery. If you are in stages 1, 2, or 3 of knee OA, you may avail yourself of various non-invasive and minimally invasive treatment options. It may give you relief from pain and improve your quality of life.
Sohana Hospital, Mohali, has a trusted team of some of the best knee doctors in Chandigarh, who help you avoid or delay surgery with – advanced, patient-centric, and non-surgical management of knee OA.
What is Knee Osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis is an age-related condition associated with the wearing out of the knee cartilage (strong, rubbery tissue). Since cartilage is responsible for providing cushioning between bones, its degeneration results in friction between bones. The patient may experience pain, stiffness, and inflammation in the knee.
Common Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms:
- Constant knee pain (even while sleeping, typical of advanced OA)
- Stiffness (particularly in the morning)
- Swelling and inflammation
- Reduced range of motion
- Clicking or popping sounds
- Trouble walking, standing, and climbing stairs
The disease is progressive, which means it worsens gradually if not diagnosed and treated in time.
Is it Possible to Treat Knee Osteoarthritis Without Surgery?
Yes! If the condition is diagnosed early on, your knee doctor will first suggest non-surgical treatments.
Surgery may be necessary when the condition reaches an advanced stage:
- Unbearable knee pain
- Severely impaired movement
- Non-surgical treatments do not give results
However, studies indicate that conservative treatments, such as structured physiotherapy, maintaining a healthy weight, prescription medications, and orthobiologic treatments, can bring noticeable relief and delay surgery.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Knee Osteoarthritis
1. Lifestyle Changes & Weight Control
If you are in stage 1 of knee osteoarthritis, the cartilage has just started wearing out. Making doctor-suggested positive changes to your lifestyle at this time can prove beneficial in checking the progression of the condition.
👉 Read our complete guide: The 4 Stages of Osteoarthritis: From Early to Severe
The most significant aspect in this context is maintaining a healthy weight. The reason is that extra weight puts excessive stress on your knee joints. For every 1 kg of extra weight, your knees have to bear 4X extra pressure! So, even a minor reduction in weight can considerably lower stress on the knees.
Also, consume a healthy diet and include anti-inflammatory food items to improve knee health.
These changes may help improve knee function while slowing down OA progression.
2. Physiotherapy & Exercise
Physiotherapy may be an effective treatment for individuals in the early stages of knee osteoarthritis. Perform physiotherapy under the guidance of a trained physiotherapist. And make sure you do it regularly.
Physiotherapy serves multiple functions, including:
- Strengthening muscles around your knees
- Improving range of motion
- Making the knee joint more stable
- Enhancing movement in the knee
Research reveals that dedicated physiotherapy over 8 weeks or more can make knee OA patients feel much better.
👉 Read our complete guide: Why You Need Physiotherapy After Knee Replacement Surgery
Which exercises to perform?
- Strengthening the quadriceps
- Stretching hamstrings
- Yoga
- Walking, swimming, cycling, and other low-impact activities
Physiotherapy in the early OA stages can help delay or even prevent the need for surgery.
3. Pain Relief Medications
Your orthopaedic doctor may prescribe over-the-counter painkillers in the beginning. If these are found to be ineffective in relieving pain, they may advise prescription painkillers. These may help manage pain and swelling:
- Paracetamol (for mild pain relief)
- NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
- Topical gels and creams
- Prescription painkillers
While these medicines may temporarily help improve your quality of life, they are not a permanent solution. Also, they may be harmful to the liver and kidneys. So, take them only after consulting your doctor and at the recommended dosage.
4. Knee Braces & Support
Wearing braces, wraps, shoe inserts, or knee support can be a simple yet effective solution to control knee pain. These work by:
- Redistributing weight across the knee
- Reducing pressure
- Improving stability and mobility
Clinical studies indicate that knee braces may help reduce pain, improve stability, and support mobility in some patients.
5. Knee Injections
Various kinds of injection therapies are being utilised for treating mild to moderate osteoarthritis:
- Corticosteroid Injections (control inflammation and reduce pain)
- Hyaluronic Acid Injections (lubricate the joint and reduce stiffness)
- PRP or Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections (use the patient’s own blood to promote repair)
These non-invasive treatments have been seen to bring significant pain reduction in mild to moderate patients of knee osteoarthritis.
6. Stem Cell Therapy
It is a breakthrough orthobiologic treatment that holds the potential of naturally rebuilding the damaged cartilage in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis.
- Repairs and rebuilds cartilage
- Given in the form of an injection
- Painless procedure
- Faster recovery
- Reduces pain and improves knee function
- Delay or prevent the need for TKR (total knee replacement)
This revolutionary knee osteoarthritis treatment is available in the tricity at Sohana Hospital, Mohali. World-renowned knee surgeon, Dr. Gagandeep Singh Sachdeva, who has over 25 years of experience, recommends it to patients in stages 2 and 3 of knee OA – to save their natural knees for longer.
👉 Read our complete guide: Stem Cell Therapy for Knee: Can It Delay Knee Replacement?
7. Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy or the key-hole technique to diagnose and treat an array of knee problems, can also be used to treat select knee OA patients, provided they are still in mild to moderate stages of the condition.
- Tiny incisions
- Fewer stitches
- Minimally painful
- Faster recovery
Note: It is important to understand that, as with all medical treatments, relief and outcomes from non-surgical treatments for knee osteoarthritis may vary from patient to patient. Also, some treatments, like orthobiologics (stem cell therapy, PRP, hyaluronic injections), are still being studied for their efficacy in knee patients. Apart from this, not all patients may be eligible for a particular treatment.
👉 Read our complete guide: Arthroscopy: Types, Procedure, Benefits, Recovery Time
Benefits of Non-Surgical Treatments
Patients choose non-surgical treatment approaches because of the numerous advantages they offer:
- No surgery-related complications
- No hospital stay
- Faster recovery because of minimal tissue trauma
- Easier on the pocket
- Personalised treatment
- Help preserve natural knees for longer
- Delay or prevent surgery
Preventing Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis
If you pay attention to your knees and other joints right from the beginning, it can help you keep your knees healthier for longer. In short, prevention is the key:
- Stay physically active with walking, cycling, and other low-impact activities
- Shed off extra weight through exercise and the right diet
- Avoid sitting at a stretch for long durations
- Maintain a correct posture while sitting and walking
- Strengthen muscles around the knee
- Wear supportive shoes
Minor changes in lifestyle can help keep your knees fit and avoid the need for knee replacement surgery.
Why Choose Sohana Hospital for Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment in Mohali?
Sohana Hospital is one of the leading super-speciality hospitals in the entire North India. When it comes to orthopaedics and knee treatment, the hospital is known in India and abroad for the best knee doctors in Chandigarh, along with the state-of-the-art diagnostics and advanced treatment approaches.
A highly experienced team of orthopaedic experts, led by the award-winning knee surgeon, Dr. Gagandeep Singh Sachdeva, CEO and Chief Robotic Joint Replacement Surgeon, gives personalised attention to each patient:
- Check medical history and symptoms
- Conduct a physical examination
- Suggest the right diagnostic tests (X-rays, blood tests, or MRI, etc.)
- Discuss your preferences
- Suggest appropriate lifestyle changes
- Advise personalised treatment according to your condition
- Give preference to non-surgical treatments first
- Focus on tailored physiotherapy and rehab
- Aim at helping you recover early and get back to an active life
- Have proven specialisation in delaying knee replacement surgery
Conclusion
Knee osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in your knees starts wearing out for any reason. Advancing age is typically the most common reason. However, the damage does not occur instantly, unless there is a knee injury.
It is possible to treat the condition through non-surgical treatment options as long as you do not reach the advanced stage. While knee replacement becomes the most effective treatment in the severe stage of knee OA, those in the earlier stages have several options to save their natural knees:
- Lifestyle changes
- Weight reduction
- Exercise
- Physiotherapy
- Pain medications
- Knee braces and other supports
- Knee injections (corticosteroids, PRP, hyaluronic)
- Stem cell therapy
- Arthroscopy
However, the deciding factor remains – How much cartilage damage has already occurred? At which stage of knee osteoarthritis are you?
A healthy lifestyle can go a long way in protecting your knees and other joints from damage. And if you feel any pain or discomfort in your knees, seeking prompt medical care can safeguard your knees from surgery.
Stay active, get timely care – Save your knees from surgery
FAQs
1. Can osteoarthritis be treated without surgery?
Yes. Osteoarthritis can often be managed without surgery, especially in the early stages. However, it cannot be completely cured.
2. For how many years can I delay knee replacement surgery?
If you get the right treatment at the right time, you may be able to delay knee surgery for several years.
3. Is stem cell therapy effective?
Yes, the revolutionary technology has been found to be effective in mild to moderate cases of osteoarthritis. Sohana Hospital is one of the few hospitals in Punjab to offer this therapy to patients with knee OA.
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