Knee Problems: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

The knee is a vital part of the body and is essential for walking, running and most kinds of movement. This is why any issue with the joint can cause severe complexities in day to day activities. Generally knee pain brings about a lot of restrictions when respect to bodily movements. There can be several causes behind abnormalities in the knee joint and the treatment can only be started once the cause is determined. For determining the exact cause a thorough medical examination is mandatory.

The most common cause for knee problems is an injury while playing sports or during an accident. Such an injury may lead to something as mundane as a sprain or it may also lead to a severe knee dislocation. At any rate, treatment is necessary and one should not take a chance when it comes to knee pain or other knee related issues.

Some of the major causes for knee issues include Bursitis. In this condition, the bursa sac containing fluids in the knee joint gets overused and can swell up. This causes pain in the kneecap, and doctors may often refer to it as preacher’s knee. Apart from this, a dislocated kneecap may also occur, where the kneecap slides out of its normal position. Lastly, osteoarthritis is a leading cause for knee pain in the world.

If you are experiencing pain or other kinds of discomfort in the knees, it is vital to get the area checked out by a physician. The doctor will be able determine what is the root cause for the symptoms and treatment will be started accordingly.

If the pain is caused due to a minor accident or injury, the treatment may simply involve the usage of oral painkillers and pain relief sprays. However, if the root cause is something more serious, such as osteoarthritis, patients may need to undergo a complete course of medication and physical therapy, in order to manage the pain in the knee. Arthritis cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be kept in check.

In severe cases of knee problems, doctors may recommend undergoing a knee replacement surgery. Such a prognosis generally results from osteoarthritis, but may also be considered when all other forms of treatments are unable to present the desirable results. During the surgery, the patient is put under general anaesthesia and doctors make an incision at the knee region. The affected parts of the joint is removed and a prosthetic part made out of plastic and metal is inserted into the knee in its place.

If the patient suffers from considerable pain in the knees and if the doctor deems it necessary, treatment may be required. Usually, major treatment for the knee is sought in case of injuries related to the joint and to severe osteoarthritis.

People who do not suffer from any discomfort in their knees or may have very limited pain, may not require treatment. Slight pain or discomfort usually goes away on its own without the help of any medication or preventative measures.

Side effects depend on the cause and the medication used to treat the problems of the knees. While pain relief sprays do not have any side effects to them, drugs taken orally can lead to some complications. For example, the medication used to treat the osteoarthritis may cause edema in the legs, heartburn, stomach ulcers and even stomach pain. Such medication will also likely increase the chances suffering a stroke or a heart attack.

Aside from the side effects of the medication for arthritis, a knee replacement surgery can also lead to several incidents. For instance, the procedure may cause excessive bleeding, formation of blood clot, loosening of the metal and plastic prosthetic part inside the knees and continuous pain.

The nature of the post treatment care depends on the condition that caused the knee problems in the first place. Doctors may ask you to follow a particular diet as well, which could help in the recovery. However, most patients will be asked to exercise the joint, so as to avoid having to jam it in some fashion. Regular exercise and diet are the cornerstone for the maintenance of perfect knee and joint functionality.

The rate of recovery depends on the underlying condition causing the knee problem. If the same is caused due to osteoarthritis, the pain may take some time to subside. Medication as well as lifestyle changes will determine how soon a person recovers from the injury or condition. In case of knee replacement surgery as well, full recovery usually takes a couple of month.

However, in case of minor knee pain, the recovery may be complete in just a 3 to 5 months.

Depending on the form of treatment involved, the cost of remedying the condition varies. For most cases, the knee pain or discomfort goes away in a week or two. However, people with osteoarthritis will most likely have to rely on drugs for most of their lives. For medicinal treatment, the cost is between Rs. 200 and Rs. 1,000. However, if the patient needs to undergo the knee replacement surgery, the costs will be substantially higher. In such cases, the cost will be between Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 1 Lakh.

Results of the treatment are usually permanent for most conditions, even though the treatment for osteoarthritis does not cure the condition. For arthritis, patients can undergo a knee replacement surgery, although this procedure is only reserved for people who do not respond to normal forms of treatment. At any rate, the results are mostly permanent, if further knee trauma is prevented in the future.

Acupuncture is a widely used form of treatment for people undergoing chronic knee pain or other issues related to the joint. Even though there are a very limited number of studies linking acupuncture to beneficial effects on the joint, the procedure has become quite popular and many people opt for it. During this process, a number of needles are inserted at specific points of the body, in a bid to reduce the discomfort and pain experienced by the patient undergoing it.