Having knee arthritis doesn't mean you'll need surgery. You may find sufficient relief and management through a few lifestyle changes and conservative clinical intervention, including physical therapy, injections, or biologic treatments.
You might consider knee surgery if your arthritis has become so severe that it keeps you up at night or prevents you from living the active life that you want. If swelling, inflammation, and comfort don't improve with medication and rest, or if your leg has become deformed due to excessive joint wear, you may be a great candidate for knee surgery.
Knee arthritis is typically handled in one of two ways:
Arthroscopic surgery. This minimally invasive procedure views the knee joint using an arthroscope. The narrow tube with a camera on the end is inserted through a tiny incision. Viewing the joint on a monitor, the doctor can use tiny instruments inserted through another small incision to remove damaged cartilage and flush the joint of debris that may be contributing to pain.
Knee replacement. If all other treatment options have failed to achieve a satisfactory level of relief, you may be a good candidate for knee replacement surgery. In this procedure, the doctor replaces all worn parts of the knee, including cartilage and parts of the joint, with artificial devices made of plastic and metal. The relieving results of knee replacement can last indefinitely. If you are a candidate for knee replacement, your doctor will discuss their expected outcome, downtime, and all other important aspects of the treatment.