If your knee pain is severe and has started affecting your quality of life, you should consult your healthcare provider. In most situations, you are given pain medications and resume a pain-free lifestyle, mainly resting to avoid overworking your knee. However, if these treatments are no longer effective, meniscectomy may be recommended to help alleviate pain, especially if you have suffered a meniscus injury. Suppose you are experiencing severe knee pain caused by a meniscus injury; Meniscectomy Chula Vista helps alleviate pain, thus promoting comfort. However, before undergoing the procedure, there are some considerations you should look into, including:

Can pain be managed without surgery?

In most cases, before your care provider decides that you require a meniscectomy to deal with your injury or pain. It is essential first to try other treatments available because there is a possibility that your pain can be managed using other therapies. Examples of therapies that are effective in dealing with this type of pain include physical therapy, which helps restore the mobility and strength of your knee. Similarly, injections like hyaluronic acid and cortisone are recommended to help alleviate inflammation. Stem cell therapy, the newest therapy, promotes the healing of injured tissues.

Does a torn meniscus cause your knee pain?

Before your care provider decides that meniscectomy is the best treatment for your condition, they should examine your injury and determine if the pain is actually due to a torn meniscus. In other cases, knee pain can be due to other concerns, such as osteoarthritis, which usually follows ligament damage, tears, or overuse of the knee joint. Therefore, it is essential to determine the cause of your knee pain before recommending a meniscectomy.

Which is the best method for alleviating your knee pain?

Some healthcare specialists may recommend knee surgery other than meniscectomy, depending on your condition. In some cases, knee surgery is effective in easing pain in the short term but may also increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life. However, more recent research has shown that those who undergo partial meniscectomy have a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis. In this case, they must undergo knee replacement surgery later in life to alleviate pain after developing osteoarthritis.

Is an artificial meniscus available?

In most cases, if you suffer knee pain after undergoing a meniscus surgery, your care provider may recommend other treatment options, including NUsurface meniscus implants. These implants are designed to function like your natural meniscus. It also helps redistribute loads transmitted across your knee joint. Usually, the implant is composed of medical-grade plastic material that does not need to be fixed to your soft tissues or bones.

Even though most recent studies encourage people to undergo meniscectomies, it is always necessary to try and find out if other alternative therapies, such as physical therapy or alternative medications, can help alleviate knee pain. However, a meniscectomy is recommended if you have a meniscus tear and have tried physical therapy and alternative treatments that are no longer effective. Therefore, you can schedule your appointment at Ortho I Medical Group today to help alleviate any knee pain interfering with your performance at work or in activities of daily living.