Partial Knee Resurfacing
What Causes My Joint Pain?
Normally, all of the parts of the knee joint work together and the joint moves easily and without pain. However, diseases or injury can disturb the normal functioning of the joint resulting in:
- Pain
- Muscle weakness
- Limited movement
Osteoarthritis (OA)
One of the most common causes of knee pain and loss of mobility is the wearing away of the joint’s cartilage lining. When this happens, the bones rub against each other, causing significant pain and swelling — a condition known as osteoarthritis. Trauma or direct injury to the knee can also cause osteoarthritis. Additionally, without cartilage there is no shock absorption between the bones in the joint, allowing stress to build up in the bones and contributing to pain.
Osteoarthritis is probably the most common joint disorder in the United States, affecting approximately 20 million people.1
Treatment Options for Arthritis
Following an orthopaedic evaluation, your orthopaedic specialist will review and discuss the results with you. Your treatment options may include:
- Medication
- Physical therapy
- Knee joint fluid supplements
- Arthroscopy
- Knee joint resurfacing
If non-invasive treatment options are not giving you satisfactory pain relief, knee surgery may become necessary. However, a total knee replacement (TKR) may not be necessary — alternate types of knee implants are available.