Suggest Treatment For Painful Knees With Loss Of Cartilage

Posted on Thu, 31 Jul 2014

Question: I have bad knees. The GP doctor I go too says that I have almost no cartiledge left. I got the series of three shots in my knees last summer but I still have difficulty walking at times. I'm very winded just walking two blocks even though I workout and have lost weight. I take two Aleve each day and that helps a little but my question is whether there is something else that can be done short of knee replacement? What's the latest orthpods are doing?

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You may send the X-ray picture

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for posting
I have gone through your suffering carefully and at present time the definite solution for knees with loss of cartilage is knee replacement. The latest is role of stem cell therapy in cartilage regeneration, but it has doubtful results and need further research.
For Osteoarthritis weight reduction is the main treatment along with medicines to decrease pain like NSAID's - paracetamol, aceclofenac and nutritional joint supplement like Glucosamine/chondroitin sulphate. Life style modifications like avoiding sitting cross legged, squatting will decrease the rate of progression of osteoarthritis. Exercises like quadriceps strengthening, swimming; straight leg rising will help in improving the muscle strength around the knee and will help in decreasing pain.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, I shall be glad to answer them.
Wishing you good health.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar