13/06/2024
Many people ask me what medications are good for Knee pain -Osteoarthritis. My simple answer is …
Basically,osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a degenerative condition that brings about many changes not only in knees but also in other joints like spine & ankles. Medication or steroid injections ( very popular) has very limited use as they work till they are taken.
I feel that in early stages of OA exercises like cycling or swimming work the best. If walking is not painful during and after a walk, it is also good. Once you have moderate osteoarthritis where most of the people along with nagging pain will find their legs slightly bent if they see themselves in the mirror. This is the time to go to an orthopaedic surgeon and to get proper treatment that might be an axis correction surgery like osteotomy.
It is unfortunate that in this era of total knee replacement surgery, a wonderful surgery like osteotomy has gone on the back benches, but still many orthopaedic surgeons prefer to do this surgery especially in South East Asian countries &!Europe because it saves the natural knee joint and believe me that a natural joint cannot be replicated by any man-made joints. I personally feel that nobody should progress with OA till a stage comes for total knee replacement. unfortunately people do not take care of their INITIAL injuries, especially Knee ligament or cushion ( meniscus) injuries and also they listen to people who advise them for other treatments those cannot correct the axis or improve atmosphere inside the joint. All pain medications are pain suppressing and cannot repair the damage inside the joint. I feel that Cycling is the best exercise to recover from early OA of knee joints and to re**rd progress of arthritis. Static cycling or outdoor cycling serves the same purpose. Unfortunately people have many reasons not to do cycling beyond 50 years of age when it is needed the most.
