Knee pain and arthritis have become a very common health problem in today's time, which is affecting not only the elderly but also the young people. When a person starts feeling constant pain, swelling, stiffness or difficulty in walking in the knee joints, the first question that comes to his mind is whether knee operation i.e. joint replacement surgery is the only option left to get rid of this disease? Medical science and orthopedics experts believe that not every knee pain or arthritis patient requires surgery. In the early and moderate stages, this problem can be successfully treated through physiotherapy, weight control, lifestyle changes and medicines. However, there are certain medical indications and conditions where it becomes mandatory for the patient to undergo the operation. In this detailed report, we will tell you on the basis of which circumstances and signs in knee arthritis it is decided that the time for surgery has come. Early stages of knee arthritis and non-surgical treatment options When a person has early knee arthritis, the cartilage (cartilage is the cushion that protects the bones from rubbing together) begins to wear down. In this condition, there is no need for patients to think about surgery immediately. Doctors first recommend non-surgical i.e. conservative treatment. In this, controlling the weight of the patient is the most important step, because the extra weight puts direct pressure on the knee joints. Apart from this, regularly doing light physiotherapy, doing exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee, and taking anti-inflammatory medicines or supplements as per the doctor's advice can provide a lot of relief to the patient. If the lifestyle is kept disciplined in the initial stages and special attention is paid to the diet, then the rate of wear and tear of the knee can be slowed down to a great extent and long-term operation can be avoided. What are the major signs that surgery is now inevitable? As the disease of arthritis becomes severe (advanced stage), the bones of the knee start rubbing against each other and the joint gap completely closes. In such a situation, non-surgical measures start proving ineffective. Orthopedic surgeons decide on the basis of certain physical and medical signs that the patient is in dire need of knee surgery. The first and main indication is that if the patient continues to have severe and unbearable pain in the knee even while resting, i.e. lying or sitting. The second big sign is that even after taking medicines, painkillers, injections or physiotherapy, if there is no relief from pain and normal daily activities like bathing, wearing clothes or even walking inside the house have become difficult, then it is considered a clear sign of surgery. What to do if there is helplessness in walking and change in the shape of the knee? As knee arthritis progresses, sometimes the shape of the patient's legs also starts getting deformed, such as the legs turning inwards or becoming arched. If you have extreme pain while climbing up and down stairs, you are unable to walk even a hundred steps without support, or your knee continues to swell with a loud crackling sound, then you should immediately consult a good joint replacement surgeon. When it is seen in the X-ray report that the bones of the knee have completely worn out and the space between them has disappeared, then the doctor recommends operation. With the advent of modern medical technology, knee replacement surgery has now become extremely safe and successful, due to which patients are able to stand on their feet normally again in a few days and are free from pain.
