Living with knee arthritis can significantly impact your daily life, making simple tasks painful and challenging. At Lysander Pain Care and Ortho Center, we understand the importance of effective pain management and are dedicated to providing advanced, minimally invasive treatments to help our patients regain mobility and improve their quality of life. Below, we offer a detailed look into each treatment option available for knee arthritis at our center, designed to reduce pain with minimal recovery time.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections (Viscosupplementation)
Understanding the Treatment
Hyaluronic acid injections aim to mimic the naturally occurring lubricant in the knee joint, providing a cushioning effect that can ease movement and reduce pain.
What It Is: A gel-like substance injected directly into the knee joint.
Purpose: To improve the lubrication in your knee, making movement smoother and less painful.
Benefits: Reduces pain and improves mobility for several months.
The Procedure
Preparation: A preliminary assessment to determine the severity of arthritis and suitability for the treatment.
Execution: A numbing injection is given in your knee followed by injection of hyaluronic acid into the knee joint, ensuring optimal distribution.
Duration and Frequency: The entire process takes just a few minutes, with potential repeat sessions after months or years based on individual response and needs.
Expected Outcomes
Patients typically experience improved knee mobility and significant pain reduction, with effects lasting from several months up to six months or more.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Understanding the Treatment
PRP therapy uses the patient's own blood components to accelerate healing and reduce inflammation within the knee joint.
What It Is: A treatment using a concentration of your own blood platelets.
Purpose: To promote healing of the joint tissue and reduce inflammation.
Benefits: Decreases pain, reduces inflammation, and improves joint function.
Procedure: Blood is drawn, platelets are concentrated, and then injected back into your knee, all during the same visit.
The Procedure
Preparation: A small sample of blood is drawn from the patient.
Execution: The blood is processed to concentrate platelets, which are then injected back into the patient's knee joint.
Duration and Frequency: The process can be completed in about an hour, with some patients requiring a series of injections over several weeks.
Expected Outcomes
PRP therapy has been shown to effectively reduce pain and inflammation, with improvements in joint function that can last for months or even years. PRP is an effective regenerative therapy in early stages of arthritis.
Steroid Injections
Understanding the Treatment
Steroid injections provide quick relief from inflammation and pain by delivering potent anti-inflammatory medication directly into the knee joint.
What It Is: A powerful anti-inflammatory medication injected into the knee.
Purpose: To quickly reduce inflammation and pain in the knee joint.
Benefits: Offers rapid relief from pain and swelling.
Procedure: Involves a quick injection into the knee area, with effects lasting for weeks to months.
The Procedure
Preparation: The knee area is cleaned, and a local anesthetic may be applied.
Execution: A corticosteroid solution is injected into the knee joint space.
Duration and Frequency: Relief can be immediate, with effects lasting from a few weeks to several months. Treatment may be repeated if necessary, albeit with limitations to prevent joint damage.
Expected Outcomes
Most patients experience a rapid decrease in knee pain and swelling, facilitating improved mobility and comfort.
Stem cell therapy - Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate ( this has to be added)
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Understanding the Treatment
RFA uses radio waves to heat and disable specific nerves around the knee, blocking pain signals sent to the brain.
What It Is: A procedure using radio waves to heat and deactivate specific nerves.
Purpose: To stop pain signals from reaching the brain.
Benefits: Provides long-lasting pain relief, extending from several months to over a year.
Procedure: A needle-like probe is inserted near the affected nerves under guidance, delivering targeted radiofrequency energy.
The Procedure
Preparation: The target nerves are identified through diagnostic nerve blocks.
Execution: Under local anesthesia and imaging guidance, a needle-like probe is inserted, and radiofrequency energy is applied to the nerves.
Duration and Frequency: The procedure takes about 30-60 minutes, with pain relief lasting from six months to over a year.
Expected Outcomes
Patients typically report long-lasting pain relief, allowing for increased activity levels and improved quality of life.
Arthroscopic Debridement
Understanding the Treatment
Arthroscopic debridement involves the removal of damaged cartilage and other tissues from the knee joint to reduce pain and improve function.
What It Is: A minimally invasive surgery using small incisions and specialized tools.
Purpose: To clean out the inside of the knee joint, removing damaged tissue and debris.
Benefits: Reduces pain and improves joint mobility with less trauma to surrounding tissues.
Procedure: Performed through small incisions using a camera and instruments, allowing for precise removal of problematic areas.Sometimes viscosupplement and PRP injection is done along with this to augment healing.
The Procedure
Preparation: Small incisions are made around the knee.
Execution: An arthroscope and surgical instruments are inserted to visualize and clean the joint interior.
Duration and Frequency: This outpatient procedure usually takes less than an hour, with recovery times varying based on individual factors.
Expected Outcomes
Following arthroscopic debridement, many patients experience decreased pain, enhanced mobility, and a quicker return to daily activities compared to traditional surgery.
Why Lysander Stands Out
Expertise: Our team consists of specialists with extensive experience in minimally invasive arthritis treatments.
Technology: We utilize the latest in diagnostic and treatment technologies for precise, effective care.
Customized Care: Treatments are tailored to each patient's specific condition, lifestyle, and goals.
Holistic Approach: We offer comprehensive support, including physical therapy and lifestyle advice, to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Conclusion
Minimally invasive treatments for knee arthritis at Lysander Pain Care and Ortho Center offer promising alternatives for those seeking relief from arthritis symptoms without the downtime associated with traditional surgery. By leveraging advanced techniques and a patient-centered approach, we aim to help you achieve lasting pain relief and improved joint function. If knee arthritis is affecting your quality of life, contact us to explore how our treatment options can help you get back to doing the things you love.
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