| Severe knee arthritis can be debilitating. As the | | | | 2.) Modification of Daily Activity : While you may |
| condition deteriorates you will find that most | | | | want to set some limits on some of your activities, |
| activities, sometimes even walking, may become | | | | you should explore new exercise methods with the |
| progressively more difficult and painful. | | | | clearance of the doctor. Patients may also try aquatic |
| Should you curtail your activities if you have severe | | | | exercises as it is an excellent option for patients who |
| knee arthritis? | | | | have difficulty exercising. |
| If you are suffering from severe knee arthritis your | | | | 3.) Use of Walking Aids: Using a cane or a single |
| first instinct will be to cut back on the activities that | | | | crutch can help decrease the load pressure placed on |
| seem to aggravate the pain in the knee. In fact your | | | | the arthritic joint. |
| doctor will advise you to take the elevator instead of | | | | 4.) Physical Therapy: Physical activity to strengthen |
| the stairs and to avoid going on long, brisk walks or | | | | the muscles around the knee joint can prevent |
| carrying heavy loads. | | | | atrophy of the muscles and will maintain functional |
| On the flip side, however, you cannot really afford to | | | | use of the knee while reducing the burden being put |
| become totally inactive as this could cause other | | | | on it. |
| problems. Treating this condition effectively requires | | | | 5. ) Use of Anti-Inflammatory Medications: NSAIDs |
| you to remaining as active as possible, so that you | | | | and other ant-inflammatory drugs are prescribed by |
| do not gain weight or worsen your overall health | | | | the doctor to manage the pain and inflammation |
| condition. | | | | components of the severe knee arthritis. |
| A recent study that was reported in the Annals of | | | | Use of Cortisone Injections: Your doctor may opt for |
| Internal Medicine, indicated that people with hip | | | | cortisone injections to reduce inflammation and |
| arthritis who force themselves to remain active do | | | | relieve the intense pain within the joint. |
| better in the long run than those who chose to | | | | 6.) Use of Knee Braces: Using supportive devices |
| become inactive. Being inactive also leads to other | | | | such as knee braces have been found to be a very |
| complications including obesity as well as loss of | | | | effective element of the treatment. There are two |
| muscle and bone strength. | | | | types of knee braces for patients with severe knee |
| How Severe Knee Arthritis can be Treated | | | | arthritis. The unloader knee brace shifts load away |
| The treatment regimen should will first involve the | | | | from the affected region of the knee. On the other |
| most basic steps and then progress to the more | | | | hand, the support knee brace helps "support" the |
| involved procedures should the need arise. In severe | | | | entire knee load. A well designed knee support is |
| cases, surgery may be considered. Treatment | | | | referred to by many people as a "pain pill" due to the |
| regimen is on a person-to-person basis as not all | | | | pain reduction that it can help provide. With improved |
| treatments are appropriate for every patient. You | | | | alignment and the meaningful support that these |
| should have a discussion with your doctor to | | | | braces provide, you should not look past their |
| determine which treatments are appropriate to your | | | | benefits. Many times these "unloader" knee braces |
| problem. | | | | are also referred to as OA (osteoarthritis) knee |
| Your treatment options include: | | | | braces. |
| 1.) Weight Loss: This aspect of the treatment | | | | If you believe that you can benefit from pain |
| regimen can be considered as one of the most | | | | reduction and improved knee stability then you should |
| important as excess weight puts additional strain on | | | | consider a knee support today. |
| the knees, which will just worsen the condition. | | | | |