Knee replacement surgery, aimed at relieving chronic knee pain and restoring proper function of the joint, is one of the more common surgical interventions Americans choose to have done. Statistics indicate that surgeons in the U.S. perform around 850,000 knee replacement surgeries every year.
The financial cost of knee replacement surgery can be upwards of $50,000, not including the time lost from work and any costs associated with aftercare. And although knee replacement surgery is considered safe and relatively common, it’s still surgery — which always comes with risks.
The biggest risks include persistent stiffness in the new joint and the possibility that the joint may become loose or infected. In addition, knee surgery can leave behind some pretty dramatic scarring, both internally and externally.
Naturopathic physicians take a different approach.
Trained and committed to treating the root cause of an affliction, rather than its symptoms — such as pain — naturopathic doctors dig to determine how to correct the aggravating factor that is creating discomfort in the first place. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, is generally blamed for chronic knee pain.
The condition means that tissues in the joint break down over time, causing pain, often in older people. However, chronic knee pain could be the result of other issues. When working with a naturopathic doctor, like any of the professionals at Ethos, patients may find that surgical intervention can be avoided.
Here is how a naturopathic doctor approaches the treatment of chronic knee pain, ultimately providing knee pain relief for patients.
Analysis. Naturopathic physicians start by analyzing a patient’s knee joint, to understand where the pain is coming from and how well the joint’s capsule, cartilage, bone and meniscus are working together. Then, the patient’s muscular and structural symmetry will be assessed to understand deficiencies that may be playing a role in the knee pain he or she is experiencing. Naturopathic doctors also examine the patient’s neuromuscular relationship to understand if there is nerve irritation present.
Treatment options. For issues related to articulation, where the bones and cartilage come together at the joint, patients can choose between treatment that involves surgery or injections. If the problem is related to muscular and structural symmetry, patients can explore massage, chiropractic treatments or physical therapy. Pain caused by stability problems can be treated with surgery, physical therapy or injections, and those involving the neuromuscular system can be treated with massage, injections, chiropractic intervention or physical therapy.
Injections. If a patient would like to explore non-surgical options to treat chronic knee pain, injections are one way to go. At Ethos, we utilize a number of options for problems related to articulation and stability. Those injections include:
- Cortisone
- Hyaluronic acid
- Prolotherapy
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Amniotic growth factor
- Stem cell
- Peptide therapy
For issues related to the neuromuscular system, we utilize trigger point injection, perineural injection and peptide therapy.
To get a better understanding of the therapeutic options available to you to help treat your chronic knee pain, schedule a consultation.
At Ethos Integrative Medicine in Scottsdale, our team of specialists takes a novel approach to healthcare to achieve the results patients deserve. Learn more about our team at https://ethosscottsdale.com/.
Interested in how we can help you? Get your questions answered by scheduling an introductory call.
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