Research is ongoing, but several studies have found PRP to pack a powerful healing punch more effective than HA injections. Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. It commonly affects teenagers, especially young female athletes.
A doctor may sometimes administer injections and inject hydrocortisone or hyaluronic acid into the affected area. Side effects of hyaluronic acid injection may include pain and swelling at the injection site and difficulty moving the knee immediately after the injection. These symptoms are usually temporary, and applying ice helps ease the pain. Several medication options are available to treat knee pain, including over-the-counter drugs, prescription options, and injections.
Knee pain can be a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Whether caused by an injury, arthritis, or other medical conditions, finding relief from knee pain is essential for maintaining mobility and quality of life. At Mayo Clinic, patients have access to a wide range of effective treatments to help alleviate knee pain and improve function.
A torn meniscus often can be identified during a physical exam. Your doctor might move your knee and leg into different positions, watch you walk, and ask you to squat to help pinpoint the cause of your signs and symptoms. A person can also treat knee pain at home by resting, raising the knee, and applying ice.
After 2 years of trying, without success, I quit taking Clonazepam so I could go back to opioids without a huge hassle, and a month ago I started taking Dilaudid. I spent more than 5 years trying a really long list of medications to no avail. Well, a couple seemed to help, but they caused unacceptable side effects. All of our attempts for relief have received personal unique results.What helps one does not necessarily help all others or even any others. Knee osteoarthritis has several causes, but the most common causes are genetic predisposition and activity level.
Physical Therapy
Rarely, surgery to remove the infected bursa is done if medicine doesn’t help. People may treat mild to moderate knee pain with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen. Knee pain can start slowly and gradually worsen over time. The medication a person takes to treat knee pain will depend on the cause and severity of the pain.
If you have advanced, degenerative arthritis, your doctor might recommend a knee replacement. For younger people who have signs and symptoms after surgery but no advanced arthritis, a meniscus transplant might be appropriate. The surgery involves transplanting a meniscus from a cadaver. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Daniel Saris, an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic, discusses MACI, the regenerative medicine approach to treating knee cartilage damage. Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive knee surgery performed with a camera inserted through small incisions.
One of the most common treatments for knee pain at Mayo Clinic is physical therapy. Physical therapists work with patients to develop personalized exercise programs aimed at improving strength, flexibility, and range of motion in the affected knee. These exercises can help reduce pain and improve function over time.
Medication
In some cases, medication may be prescribed to help manage knee pain. This may include over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or prescription medications such as corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid injections. These medications can help reduce inflammation and provide temporary relief from pain.
For more severe cases of knee pain, surgical options may be considered. These may include arthroscopic surgery to repair damaged cartilage or ligaments, partial or total knee replacement surgery, or other procedures to address the underlying cause of the pain. The expert surgeons at Mayo Clinic use the latest techniques and technologies to ensure the best possible outcomes for their patients.
Overall, Mayo Clinic offers a comprehensive approach to treating knee pain that focuses on improving function and reducing discomfort. With a combination of physical therapy, medication, and surgical interventions when necessary, patients can find relief from knee pain and get back to enjoying their daily activities.
