Important Steps to Take to Avoid Knee Surgery

Knees … an often overused, abused joint that we rely on for most of our daily movements can cause us extreme pain if not properly cared for.

We use our knees for everyday movements like walking or as a shock absorber for the rest of our body when we experience an impact. They allow us to train and perform fun tasks like dancing, biking, playing with kids, exercising and much more.

Without proper care, we can overuse and injure these important joints. In modern medicine, however, we know that knee surgery is an option – from a knee rifle scope for removing arthritic tissue or repairing torn tendons or ligaments to a complete knee replacement.

Why not go to the operation right away – why should we try to avoid it for as long as possible?

There are actually a number of reasons to avoid surgery for as long as possible. With a few tips we can help you stay active as long as possible and stay away from the surgeon.

Knowing how to address knee problems before they get more serious (until surgery is needed!) Is important to keep you active and moving.

While many of us would love to do whatever we can to stay away from under the knife since modern medicine is able to fix so much, for some it may be tempting to just keep going with painful knees until it gets late and too Surgery is the only option. However, there are many reasons to avoid surgery.

One of the bigger reasons?

Surgery is not cheap! With the average total knee surgery cost in the United States around $ 57,000 alone, the cost can be a good reason to try all other alternatives for relieving joint problems.

Compare that to the average price of a good quality knee brace of between $ 50 and $ 150, depending on the level of support. Taking the time to read some knee compression cuff reviews can save you big bucks in your wallet! But what about other knee surgeries?

Arthroscopy (commonly referred to simply as a "telescopic sight") is a surgical technique used to treat a variety of different knee problems. This procedure uses a thin instrument with a camera on one end that is passed through a small incision.

The camera guides the surgeon's work. Arthroscopy is often a procedure designed to avoid the need for more invasive surgery, including knee replacements. It can be an effective tool in preventing the need for a replacement, but it is still invasive (and can also be costly).

Riflescopes can be used for a variety of knee problems, including reconstructing ligaments and meniscus, removing inflamed or damaged tissue, or removing fragments of cartilage and bone due to an injury.

Photo credit: Unsplash

Not only does the operation incur upfront costs, but you also have incidental costs resulting from the hours of work that you may need.

Some surgeries don't require a week off, but a knee replacement can give you up to several months to heal. Depending on your paid time outside of the bank, this can be a real hardship for you.

And free time is a big deal, but you have other non-monetary costs too. The time you spend can be a real problem for many people.

The inability to take care of others such as children 100% can be frustrating or just not being able to attend to basic needs like cooking for yourself or cleaning up, washing up, etc. can be the necessity a caregiver (paid or voluntary).

Other non-financial costs can be side effects and not guarantee the success of the surgery.

Fortunately, recovery is relatively easy for many people, but complications can arise that result in much longer periods of recovery and recovery.

Approximately 2% of all knee surgeries in the US can experience permanent complications that affect an individual's mobility for the rest of their lives.

After all, the biggest side effect you can have is the reality of permanent restricted mobility. There's a reason even surgeons recommend preventing and pausing surgery for as long as possible.

Even with the most successful surgeries, a knee replacement will require altered movement for the rest of your life. Exercise restrictions are often introduced (e.g., no running or jumping, depending on the surgeon's recommendation).

Very often the person will never regain full freedom of movement before surgery. Pain relief surgery can certainly make the procedure worthwhile, but side effects need to be considered.

There is a long list of great recommendations to delay surgery for as long as possible.

1. Lose weight – Every pound that is lost equates to four pounds less pressure on the knees
2. Build leg strength – Leg strengthening exercises can help provide better knee support
3. Rest – When they are injured, sometimes the body can heal itself with a little rest
4. Bracket – Find a good knee brace to provide external support and reduce inflammation.
5. Cortisone injections – Cortical steroids can reduce inflammation and improve the body's ability to heal
6. Acupuncture or dry needling – These two modalities also help the body to repair itself
7. OTC drugs – Simple over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs can go a long way in healing minor injuries
8. physical therapy – For more severe injuries, PT is a great way to strengthen and heal an injury
9. Food supplementss – Dietary supplements like glucosamine and collagen can help the body repair from the inside out

Surgery can be a godsend for those who are in extreme pain and for whom other techniques have failed – with a good surgeon and the appropriate procedure, the quality of life can be vastly improved. However, it's imperative to avoid this for as long as possible – so keep these tips in mind!

About the author:

Susan Melony is a Kansas City freelance writer, digital marketer, and entrepreneur. She often travels while at work and is passionate about the digital nomad lifestyle.