People suffering from knee osteoarthritis often turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for relief, including herbs, joint health supplements and mind and body practices such as yoga and tai chi.
These treatments can lubricate joints, reduce inflammation and foster cartilage growth; making them an excellent alternative to knee replacement surgery.
Medical Ozone Treatments
Medical ozone treatments offer an effective alternative to knee replacement surgery, helping regenerate cartilage and promote bone and tendon growth for reduced pain and stiffness in the knee joint. Ozone treatments also offer anti-inflammatory benefits and improve blood flow to the joint by injecting oxygenated gas directly into it to break down and eliminate accumulated lactic acid that accumulates there causing discomfort.
Treatment with ozone injection is safe, pain-free and won’t affect surrounding tissues or nerves – making it an excellent option for those afraid of needles. At Alternative Disc Therapy in Caldwell, New Jersey, Dr. Warren Bleiweiss performs this procedure in-office using triple board certified physician Dr. Warren Bleiweiss at Alternative Disc Therapy; though injections may initially feel uncomfortable at first for those unfamiliar with them; nitrous oxide can be provided on request to ease discomfort during injections.
Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of intra-articular ozone infiltrations to significantly relieve knee pain. Their benefits typically reach their peak within one month and last three to six months; making this option suitable for patients whose symptoms do not respond well to conventional medications or physical therapy treatments.
Ozone increases uptake of oxygen by stimulating diphosphoglycerate (DPG), an enzyme which facilitates release of hemoglobin’s stored oxygen for use by cells. Studies show that this improves circulation – an essential aspect in treating chronic inflammatory conditions; additionally it strengthens antioxidant defenses to reduce oxidative stress within the body and ensure proper health outcomes.
Knee replacement surgeries often fail and are very expensive, yet medical ozone therapies offer an effective and cost-efficient alternative. While medical ozone therapies might not completely negate the need for knee replacement surgery, they can offer pain relief and help protect future joint damage while not necessitating any downtime following treatment completion – perfect for patients suffering from arthritis pain who want their life back on track quickly! Patients suffering from joint damage should try medical ozone therapy as soon as possible!
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem Cell Therapy for knees offers an innovative solution when traditional methods like pain relievers, activity modification or physical therapy prove ineffective. Stem Cell Therapy uses your body’s healing power to promote joint repair and regenerate cartilage – using adult (autologous) mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow injection into damaged joints as an injection treatment. Regenerative cells may help create an ideal environment for cartilage to thrive within, reduce inflammation levels and restore functionality – while Stem Cell Therapy could provide that.
Autologous cell therapy employs adult medicinal signaling cells derived from your own bone marrow to eliminate rejection or disease transmission, reduce pain and shorten recovery time while potentially encouraging cartilage regeneration. As such, this form of therapy offers attractive alternatives to surgery given its lower risks associated with it.
Dr. Verma is an accomplished clinician in this field and conducts ongoing research on how mesenchymal stem cells help treat various chronic musculoskeletal conditions. These studies will provide additional evidence of its efficacy and safety as therapy options.
Stem cell therapy for knees typically forms part of a comprehensive, patient-centric care approach that also includes other therapies, like physiotherapy, massage therapy and surgery. A recent qualitative study investigated participants who received mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy as a form of regenerative therapy for osteoarthritis using semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 participants divided into two groups based on expectations (Expectations Group) and experiences (Experiences Group).
Both groups were comparable in terms of age, gender and employment status; all had received treatment from the same physician for knee osteoarthritis; Experiences Group included patients who had undergone microfracture surgery as well as stem cell therapy; thematic analysis revealed three key themes related to treatment such as symptoms associated with treatment, satisfaction with therapy received and anticipation for further improvement.
Collecting stem cells involves drawing blood from your arm and passing it through a centrifuge, which separates its components to extract mesenchymal stem cells that will later be injected into your knee. This process usually takes around three to four hours but may need to be repeated if not enough stem cells were collected initially.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicinal art for balancing energy within the body known as qi, or vital life force, through various energetic pathways called meridians. If qi’s flow becomes disrupted it can cause illness; hence acupuncture’s effectiveness for knee osteoarthritis symptoms like pain and stiffness.
Recent research indicates that acupuncture may help alleviate lower back and knee pain caused by wear-and-tear osteoarthritis. Acupuncture was shown to provide immediate pain relief, improved function, and even long-term benefits; yet its full impact remains unclear.
In addition to knee OA, acupuncture can also assist with conditions like fibromyalgia, migraines, shingles, menstrual cramps, and tennis elbow. For safety and effectiveness reasons, only licensed acupuncturists should perform this treatment; such professionals have completed an intensive education program and passed a state licensing exam.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy offers another alternative to total knee replacement: platelet-rich plasma therapy uses your own blood to promote healing processes in your body and has been found effective for increasing tissue regeneration while decreasing pain levels in damaged areas, as well as relieving dental discomfort or nausea after surgery or chemotherapy treatments.
Massage therapy can also be an excellent alternative form of treatment for knee problems. Massage can ease stiffness in your knee and increase range of motion, helping you feel more flexible. A qualified massage therapist may employ various techniques such as gliding strokes and kneading muscles in order to alleviate knee discomfort.
When selecting a practitioner, always ask for references from previous clients so you can determine if they were satisfied with the results. Medical ozone treatments, stem cell therapies or acupuncture can all provide excellent alternatives to surgery for knee health improvements; should you experience knee pain it’s advisable to speak to either your physician or second opinion specialist to obtain further details.
Massage
Massage therapy has a multitude of therapeutic benefits that include relieving pain, improving joint movement and decreasing swelling; relieving stress; improving mood; and increasing self-image. Massage is particularly effective at relieving low back pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and strains/sprains/strains as well as constipation issues – not to mention increasing energy, relaxing muscles and creating an overall sense of well being and relaxation.
Practitioners utilize various massage techniques, including friction, light stroking, petrissage (kneading movement), deep massage and applying pressure directly onto fascia (the tough tissue covering muscles and organs). Massage may also incorporate elements from Tai chi, Feldenkrais method or Alexander technique.
Study findings indicated that people who received one hour of Swedish massage once every week for 12 weeks felt significantly improved up to one year later than those who didn’t get massages. Massage can help by loosening muscles that control the knee and improving its “range of motion.” To find a qualified massage therapist near you, speak with your physician.
