Treatment Options for OAK

Published on Sep 22, 2012.

min read

By Emily Lockhart

Surgery

A doctor may consider one of the following two surgical options as an extreme resort if knee pain is so bad that it encumbers regular movement and lifestyle:

1. Arthroscopic Surgery
Commonly performed on patients with severe OA of the knee, arthroscopic surgery cleanses the knee joint of damaged cartilage and attempts to repair the surrounding tissues of the knee to restore pain free motion.

2. Knee Replacement Surgery
This surgery is only an option when quality of life suffers due to OA as it actually replaces the damaged knee joint with an artificial model. Because no artificial knee can replace a real knee joint, this surgery is only an option for severe pain cases in order to relieve pain and restore a fraction of basic movement and function to the joint.

Emily Lockhart

Contributor

Emily Lockhart is a certified yoga instructor and personal trainer. She believes that being healthy is a lifestyle choice, not a punishment or temporary fix to attain a desired fitness or body image goal. Anna helps her clients take responsibility for their own health and wellness through her classes and articles on ActiveBeat.

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