Knee pain can be debilitating. The knee joint is the largest joint in the body, connecting your thigh bone to your lower leg. Your knees support your weight and enable your legs to bend and move. Painful knees can affect your ability to walk, stand, climb stairs, in fact, most types of day-to-day movement, as well as impacting athletic performance.
Osteoarthritis of the knee
There are different causes of knee pain but one of the most common is osteoarthritis. This affects around 5.4 million people in the UK and an estimated one in every five globally, making it the leading cause of knee pain, stiffness and loss of mobility. The number of people affected is increasing.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease so the symptoms worsen over time. In the early stages, they can normally be managed with a combination of painkilling medication, gentle exercise and lifestyle changes (including weight loss, which may help to relieve pressure on weight-bearing joints). As symptoms intensify, however, you are likely to need to step up your treatment plan.
Why delay knee surgery?
Most orthopaedic surgeons don’t generally recommend knee surgery unless your condition is significantly impacting your everyday life. There are several reasons for this. All surgery carries a small risk of complications (such as infections or nerve damage), therefore, it is better to undergo less invasive forms of treatment unless surgery is unavoidable, in which case you are likely to be offered knee replacement surgery. This is a routine and highly effective procedure, however, there is a significant recovery period which can be disruptive and inconvenient.
Additionally, in spite of many recent technological advances, prosthetic implants do not last indefinitely. A typical lifespan for an artificial knee joint is around 15-20 years. Once worn out, an implant will need to be removed and replaced with a new one using a procedure called a revision joint replacement. Revision joint replacement surgery is generally less successful than primary joint replacement surgery, with a higher risk of complications, so by delaying for as long as possible, the hope is that you will avoid the need for revision joint replacement surgery.
Painkilling injections – the options
So, what can you do to manage knee pain and, if possible, delay the need for surgery? Painkilling injections provide effective and sustained relief for people with mild to moderate knee pain.
Arthrosamid Knee Injections
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Carrothers Orthopaedics offers Arthrosamid injections which may provide pain relief for up to three years.
Arthrosamid is a permanent injectable hydrogel that is injected under local anaesthetic and ultrasound guidance. Intra-articular polyacrylamide hydrogel (iPAAG) helps to relieve the pain of knee osteoarthritis and is the product of more than two decades of scientific research.
It targets inflammation of the synovial tissue which lines the inside of the knee joint.
Synovial tissue damage can be associated with rapid loss of cartilage in knee osteoarthritis which is a major factor in knee pain.
Because the hydrogel does not degrade in the body, pain relief is maintained for far longer than conventional corticosteroid injections for joint pain.
Arthrosamid injections are part of a new class of injectable therapy and may be particularly beneficial for people whose work or sporting activities place their knees under regular stress.
It is a highly effective procedure, with patients under the age of 70 reporting close to an 80% positive response rate.
N-stride
Where appropriate, we also recommend n-stride APS injections for knee osteoarthritis. This procedure works by extracting ‘good proteins’ (anti-inflammatory cytokines and anabolic growth factors) from the patient’s own blood. These are injected into the affected knee, helping to relieve pain, reduce stiffness and inflammation, restore mobility and possibly improve cartilage health. The treatment is generally effective within a week and lasts for around 6-12 months. It is recommended for people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee.
While injectable therapies are highly effective and can help to delay the need for surgery, it is important to recognise that severe osteoarthritis will generally require surgery. Knee replacement surgery is a highly effective procedure that typically provides long-term reduction in pain and improvements in quality of life.
If you are experiencing knee pain and would like to discuss the possible treatment options please contact us.
Talk to an orthopaedic consultant | Cambridge
We are always happy to provide information and guidance about the various treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, including Mako robotic arm assisted surgery and conventional surgery.
For more information, please contact us.
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For your convenience, we offer appointments at both Nuffield Hospital Cambridge and Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital.
