Hip and knee arthritis? Here’s what can help your pain

Joint pain is often linked to hip and knee arthritis. As arthritis develops, everyday activities get harder – from walking and exercising to simply getting up from a chair.

“Arthritis is the degeneration and wearing down of cartilage,” says Dr. James Lieber, an orthopedic surgeon at Advocate Health Care who specializes in hip and knee replacement. “Cartilage is the smooth surface that cushions the joint and helps it move freely.”

When that cartilage breaks down, the joint loses its protective cushion. This can lead to pain, stiffness and difficulty moving.

While arthritis can’t be reversed, several treatments may help reduce pain and improve movement, so you can get back to the activities you enjoy.

Start with nonsurgical treatments

Dr. Lieber says treatment for arthritis often begins with more conservative options that focus on reducing pain and improving hip and knee function.

Your health care provider may recommend trying:

• Physical therapy to strengthen muscles around the joint
• Anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and swelling
• Corticosteroid injections placed directly into the joint to reduce swelling

Many find relief by combining treatments with healthy lifestyle habits. Low impact exercises, such as swimming, walking and cycling, can help keep your joints flexible and strengthen the muscles that support them.

When joint replacement may help

If your arthritis pain continues, joint replacement may be an option. In fact, Dr. Lieber says most hip and knee replacements are performed because of arthritis.

Joint replacement surgery removes damaged bone and cartilage and replaces it with an artificial joint. Advances in materials and surgical techniques mean the artificial joint could last your lifetime.

Joint replacement recovery

Joint replacement doesn’t always require a hospital stay anymore.

“For many patients, hip and knee replacements have become an outpatient surgery,” Dr. Lieber says. “You go home the same day and can put full weight on the joint immediately after surgery.”

Once fully recovered, there’s typically no activity restrictions. Share your long-term activity goals with your surgeon so you can work together to decide if joint replacement is the right option for you.

Don’t ignore joint pain

Hip or knee pain is not something you have to live with.

“It doesn’t hurt to come in, get an X-ray and see if your pain is from arthritis or from another cause,” Dr. Lieber says. “There are a lot of different tools in our toolbox we can use to help reduce your pain.”

Take a free online quiz to learn more about your hip or knee pain. Or find an orthopedic specialist in Illinois or Wisconsin.