When you have repetitive wear and tear on your joints, you are suffering from a condition known as osteoarthritis. If the cartilage goes through damage, the result is persistent inflammation. With this inflation, new blood vessels and nerves that are tiny grow in the lining of the knee joint.

The knee pain comes from the new blood vessels and nerves.

This article explains all there is to know about knee pain and osteoarthritis. Read on.

Symptoms of Knee Arthritis

Knee arthritis is a severe disease, and it is excruciating. It worsens with the advancement in age. Patients could have this problem in one or both knees. To be sure, visit MG Heal for a proper diagnosis.

It presents itself in the following symptoms:

  • Much pain in the knee joint worsens or reduces depending on the weather
  • The knee joint may start swelling
  • You could experience stiffness which also depends on the time of the day
  • You struggle walking up and down the staircase
  • Areas around the knees become tender
  • There is blood in the urine
  • It is difficult for you to walk on flat surfaces

What are The Treatments Options for Knee Arthritis?

Although knee arthritis has no cure, there are several ways through which health care providers can help manage the disease. The available options can help reduce the severity of the symptoms you are experiencing and also stop arthritis from worsening.

They include:

1.     Weight Loss/Physical Therapy

You will experience an improvement in your symptoms if you lose weight and engage in physiotherapy. However, the pain may limit you.

2.     Medications and Joint Injections

Ibuprofen and Tylenol can work well to make sure the pain subsides. However, these drugs may leave you with side effects like gastritis and damage to your liver and kidney. There is the option of using steroids or lubricant injections, but this is temporary, and it works for some patients.

3.     Surgery

For some patients, the other measures may fail, and they only have the option of undergoing knee replacement surgery and different types of joint replacement.

4.     Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)

GAE is a minimally invasive procedure that helps reduce inflammation and knee pain. GAE is the process that reduces the supply of blood to the knee lining that causes tenderness and pain.

FAQs

Can Magnesium (MG) Heal Osteoarthritis?

This is a supplement, and it may be beneficial in some ways. Still, if the knee pain is severe or it is osteoarthritis breakdown, it is unlikely for magnesium supplementation to reverse that condition.  

When Is the Right Time to Take GAE?

Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is very helpful in dealing with Knee arthritis. It relieves the pain associated with OA, and GAE is a better option than frequent medication and injections. Through GAE, the patient avoids the risks of chronic medicine and the stress of repeatedly taking injections.

The technique we use at MG Heal is effective and does not negatively impact future knee replacement surgery if it has to get done. Again, the procedure does not substitute for total knee replacement.

During this process, our radiologist makes a small needle puncture into the blood vessel supplying the inflamed section of the knee. GAE is a painless procedure that occurs in a “twilight sleep.” The interventional radiologist injects microscopic beads in the areas with abnormally increased flow. The beads also help in reducing the abnormal vessels.

Does My Insurance Cover the Procedure?

The team at prostate centers will collaborate with your insurer to have the procedure authorized. Most of our patients enjoy coverage depending on their history and examination.

How Do I Set Up a Consultation?

To get our professional services, kindly call or email us, and we will schedule a consultation for you with our team for interventional radiology.

Will This Interfere with a Knee Replacement Surgery in The Future Should I Need One?

You need not worry. The technique used at prostate centers does not interfere with a future knee surgery you might have. This also includes joint replacement surgery. Some physicians use metal coins, and this does not happen with us. We do not go for this technique because no data is clinically published to prove that it has positive outcomes.

What Clinical Data is Available?

More than 25 peer-reviewed publications demonstrate that genicular artery embolization is safe and effective. There has been improvement in the osteoarthritis symptoms, and that has been consistent in several studies. There is also proof that patients experience rapid relief within the first two weeks.

What are The Side Effects of GAE?

Genicular artery embolization has more advantages than disadvantages. One of the side effects is that the patient may start experiencing discomfort and pain in the thigh and knee areas.

What are The Advantages of GAE?

  • The process is non-surgical, which implies that it is less invasive, and there are no incisions or injections that go to the knee joint
  • During the process, you will not feel any pain and will be under conscious sedation or twilight sleep
  • Also, after going through GAE, you will comfortably return to work and resume your regular duties
  • You can be sure it will be successful as our success rate is over 90 %. Also, expect to see results in a few days

MG Heal is dedicated to providing the safest and most effective treatment for our patients. To book an appointment, please reach out early for a thorough diagnosis.