Knee Arthritis
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Knee arthritis is a major cause of disability in Australia. It can affect both your personal and professional life and prevent you from doing activities you usually enjoy. It is caused after cartilage in the knee wears down leading to pain and reduced movement. Knee pain is difficult to manage but there are successful treatments available to people who suffer from knee arthritis.
A normal knee on the left, and a knee suffering from arthritis on the right
Symptoms of knee arthritis
Knee arthritis is typically seen in middle-aged and older people, but it can sometimes affect younger patients, especially when the knee has been injured during sports, and surgery has been required for the meniscus.
Some common symptoms of knee arthritis include:
Knee pain
Knee stiffness
Soreness and a dull ache
Deformity
Knee swelling
Constant ache in the knee joint that may wake you from sleep
Knee pain treatment options in Melbourne
Knee pain and arthritis can be difficult to manage. The knee specialists at Victorian Bone and Joint Specialists are committed to helping you find solutions that work. Our Surgeons will perform a thorough set of investigations to understand your knee problem and help guide you on the best course of knee pain treatment. To get started, please book your first consultation with our knee surgeons.
Surgery
Surgery is the most common knee pain treatment when it comes to knee arthritis. Knee joint replacement may be recommended for advanced knee arthritis but there are also several non-operative treatments that should be considered. Just a few of them include:
Weight loss
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Intra Articular injections
Physical therapy
While these may relieve pain temporarily, you might want to consider knee replacement surgery.
Knee pain can often prevent you from exercising and further impact your general health. It is vital to reduce knee pain so that you are able to exercise regularly and stay healthy. Maintaining an active lifestyle has many benefits, including maintaining healthy bones and joints. Active rehabilitation is an essential ingredient for helping patients treat joint pain.
Outcomes
All patients are different. At Victorian Bone and Joint, we will advise you on the type of surgery which is likely to give you the best outcome. Often, a combination of lifestyle change, physiotherapy, weight loss and surgery will give you the most benefit.
What can I do to help healing?
Some of the most important things you can do to help your body heal after knee replacement surgery include:
Eating healthy
Quitting smoking
Vitamin C
Keeping wounds clean and dry
Working with health professionals to stay as active as possible
Maintaining a positive attitude
FAQ
How long does it take to recover from a knee replacement?
It may take up to an entire year to fully recover from knee replacement surgery. You’ll probably be able to walk on your own in 4-8 weeks, but you’ll need to continue physical rehabilitation. Rehab is an important component of recovery as it will help you strengthen your muscles and help you gain mobility.
How painful is a right total knee replacement?
A total knee replacement is designed to alleviate pain in your knee. You may experience pain after the operation, but we aim to minimise your pain and discomfort with a number of cutting edge techniques using ERAS (Enhanced recovery after surgery) protocols. This involves local anaesthetic, systemic medications, nutritional and blood sugar support and dedicated physiotherapy to manage swelling and get you back on your feet. General pain may occur for up to several weeks following your surgery. Swelling may persist for as long as three months.
What can you not do after knee replacement surgery?
Had knee replacement surgery? Most surgeons will recommend you avoid high-impact exercises, such as jogging, skiing, playing sport, or skipping activities while you are rehabilitating. You’ll also need to initially avoid lifting anything more than 10 kilograms. Some patients find it difficult to run and play high intensity sports after knee replacement. You should be able to play tennis, golf, and walk without problems.
