How to get rid of a knee problem can be a problem when we get older. The most common knee problems in older age are degenerative meniscal changes and osteoarthritis of the knees. Both of these are difficult to treat with conventional methods like anti-inflammatories and physiotherapy treatments. Anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy will soothe the pain of knee problems, but will not help to regenerate any lost hyaline cartilage. Corticosteroid injections are an option for up to three times in the same joint. But corticosteroids are hard on the hyaline cartilage breaking it down further rather than repairing it.
In the final stage is reached where bone is rubbing on bone, the doctor will often recommend a total knee replacement, which is a fairly invasive surgery.
Alternative treatment of knee problems
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How to get rid of a knee problem: Prolotherapy
With prolotherapy the physician can treat the affected knee with a Dextrose injection. It produces an irritation, which attracts stem cells from the body. These repair any damage from the arthritis. Pain eventually resolves and mobility improves.
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How to get rid of a knee problem: Stem cell and PRP therapy
There is an alternative using stem cell and PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections. Stem cells are harvested from fatty tissue and bone marrow. To prepare PRP the physician takes a venous blood sample, spins it down in a centrifuge and pipets the interphase between the red blood cells and the plasma layer. It is the mix of the stem cells and PRP which activates the stem cells. The approval from the FDA is still outstanding on this procedure, but impressive clinical trials have been published, where stem cell therapy has been successful even in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Treatment of meniscal problems is also possible with stem cell injections
Conclusion
Conventional medicine does not always have solutions for medical problems. This is particularly the case with osteoarthritis in the knee or with degenerative meniscal problems. We are in the middle of a transition from conventional treatments that uses total knee replacements to less invasive treatments with either prolotherapy or stem cell/PRP injections.