Navigating Knee Pain: Innovative Therapies to Get You Moving Again

Understanding Chronic Knee Pain: Causes and Symptoms

Chronic knee pain encompasses various conditions that affect the knee joint and surrounding tissues, leading to persistent discomfort, redness, swelling, weakness, and warmth. It often stems from a range of external traumas or medical conditions, which, if not treated adequately, can worsen over time. Age-related wear and tear, autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic issues such as gout, and even obesity can exacerbate knee pain, making it chronic.

Common Conditions Leading to Chronic Knee Pain

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are two prevalent forms of arthritis that target the knee joint, causing inflammation and degeneration. Similarly, gout results from urate crystals accumulating in the joint, leading to pain and reduced mobility. Excess body weight from obesity places undue stress on the knee joints, leading to chronic pain. Baker’s cysts and previous trauma to the knee, such as ACL tears, meniscus tears, or patellar tendinitis, also contribute to long-standing knee discomfort.

Alternative Therapies for Relief

Beyond surgery, several minimally invasive treatments can alleviate knee pain effectively. These therapies, while varied in approach, aim to mitigate inflammation, silence the activity of problematic nerves, or promote healing without extensive surgical intervention.

Corticosteroid and Hyaluronic Acid Injections: Corticosteroid injections target arthritis symptoms, providing temporary relief. Hyaluronic acid injections, often used after draining a Baker’s cyst, replenish essential joint fluid components, restoring normal joint function. These interventional procedures are quick and relatively painless.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: PRP therapy involves injecting a concentrated plasma-based serum rich in growth factors into the affected knee area. It has shown promise in regenerating damaged muscle and tendon tissue, particularly useful for trauma-induced conditions like ACL tears and tendinitis. 

Additional Advancements in Regenerative Medicine: Regenerative cell therapies, including those utilizing Bone Marrow Concentrate which contains stem cells, are increasingly being adopted to repair damaged knee tissues. These therapies, which often leverage the body’s cells, offer a cutting-edge alternative for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic knee injuries. 

Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation: RFA systems utilize radio waves and to create heat lesions in target nerve fibers. This deactivates the conduction pathway responsible for pain transmission. Ablation of the genicular nerve is a particularly effective method for arthritis-related knee pain, providing relief until nerves regenerate.

Lifestyle Changes, Diet, and Exercise: For individuals with obesity-related knee pain , a regimented and physician-discussed diet and exercise routine can significantly reduce stress on the knees. Though gradual, this approach can yield long-term success, alleviating pain sustainably by achieving a healthier weight.

Seeking Professional Care

If chronic knee pain is affecting your quality of life, seeking professional medical advice is critical. At Ospina Medical, Dr. Matthew Kohler and his highly skilled team offer a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating chronic knee pain, utilizing the latest in minimally invasive therapies. The Ospina goal is to restore your mobility and alleviate pain, helping you return to an active lifestyle.

Premier versions of the aforementioned regenerative therapies are offered by Regenexx providers. Dr. Kohler is one such physician, who is also specially trained in the discussed interventional procedures. Book a consultation with Dr. Kohler today to explore your treatment options and embark on your journey to recovery.

Written By: Shrujin Shah

Edited By: Camden Rowe

Medically Reviewed By: Matthew Kohler, MD