Knee pain can become so intense and debilitating that even getting out of bed can become a chore, and mounting stairs can become an insurmountable hurdle. As we age, joints and the connective and cushioning tissue surrounding them can become worn, and cartilage, tendons, and ligaments can tear, causing injury or damage that often results in invasive replacement surgery.
Risk Factors Associated With Knee Surgeries
As with any surgery, there is a risk for complications, ranging from discomfort to much more severe reactions. The risk for complications doubles in patients who are older than 65.
The most common risks are:
- Reaction to general or local anesthesia, including nerve injury, aches and pains, allergic reactions, and problems breathing, are some of the more common risks associated with knee surgery. Taking prescription drugs, supplements, or smoking can make these risk factors more acute.
- Blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are a risk in surgery. They can travel through the bloodstream and cause a pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening. While clots can occur in any surgery, they are more common with knee replacements.
- Infection can occur if the knee joint has bacteria enter it and can be life-threatening.
- Implant problems, such as stiffness, persistent pain, or even lack of mobility
Non-Surgical Regenerative Medicine Treatments for Knees
While most of us think of surgery as the most common solution for knee problems, other alternatives use an approach that avoids invasive procedures and artificial components. Recent advancements in regenerative therapies, including Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Cellular Therapy with the use of mesenchymal tissue, have proven to have positive results in treating many types of chronic knee pain and degenerative joint diseases.
Regenerative Cell Therapy: Doctors use the body’s own healing process, which is stimulated by the introduction of mesenchymal tissue at the site of injury. These components send biochemical signals that tell the injured tissues to begin a healing and renewal process, which can address the cause of the major symptom of knee pain – inflammation.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): PRP uses the patient’s own platelets, which are separated in a centrifuge after a blood draw and then injected into the knee. Mesenchymal tissue, donated from umbilical sources, is introduced in the same way. Both processes avoid invasive surgery and its complications and provide patients with a choice that starts the body on the path of healing itself.
If you are searching for ways to avoid knee replacement surgery, call our office today for a free consultation to find out if you may be a candidate for regenerative medicine.