Knee Arthritis

If you’re suffering from knee arthritis, you’re not alone. Cases of knee arthritis have doubled over the last century. At Austin Sports Medicine, serving the community in and around Central and South Austin, as well as Bee Cave, Cedar Park, and Pflugerville, Texas, the experienced orthopedic surgeons offer knee arthritis solutions ranging from nonoperative injections to minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery and knee joint replacements. Learn more about how you can live without knee pain by calling the office or scheduling an appointment online.

What are the symptoms of knee arthritis?

Some of the most common symptoms of knee arthritis include: 

• Knee pain
• Knee stiffness
• Inability to straighten or bend your knee comfortably
• Knee locks up or catches 
• Knee weakness

Many people with knee arthritis say their knees hurt worse when it’s damp or rainy outside.
If your knee arthritis causes persistent pain or even only occasional discomfort, it’s best to start treatment now. The earlier you get help, the better your chances of delaying or avoiding knee replacement. 

How is knee arthritis diagnosed? 

Your Austin Sports Medicine provider can assess your symptoms, physically examine your knees, and conduct imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans to examine your knee closely and make a diagnosis.

You might also need blood tests to definitively determine what form of knee arthritis you’re dealing with.

How do you treat knee arthritis? 

At Austin Sports Medicine, the team treats knee arthritis using a highly patient-specific approach. The providers respect your preferences and goals and do everything possible to help you live the life you want.
Treatment options include: 

Conservative care

Conservative care includes anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, and other noninvasive means of managing your knee arthritis symptoms. 

Injections

Steroid injections could be the next step if more conservative methods don’t work. They’re effective for mild to moderate knee arthritis.

Knee steroid injections usually take just 3-5 days to take effect. If you’re too young for a joint replacement or just aren’t ready for it, steroid injections can be a great interim option.

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy involves tiny (1-centimeter) incisions in your knee. Your provider uses an arthroscope with a camera to view your knee joint and miniature surgical tools to remove damaged tissue. 

It could be the ideal solution if you have early—to mid-stage arthritis that causes pain when you move the affected joint.

Joint replacement

In knee joint replacement, your provider removes the damaged part of your knee and replaces it with plastic and metal prosthetics.

Depending on how widespread your knee arthritis is, you might need a partial joint replacement (one compartment of your knee) or a total joint replacement (two or all three compartments of your knee).

Your Austin Sports Medicine provider explains your options to help you make the best treatment choice. Book your consultation by calling the office nearest you or using the online scheduler today.