If you have chronic pain in one or both knees that’s limiting your daily activities, here are some *treatment services performed by Dr. Robert Ference for his patients.
These options may apply after more conservative treatments such as weight loss, exercise, physical therapy, and over-the-counter medications are not helping ease your symptoms.
*This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of treatment services; Dr. Ference may recommend other options during your in-office consultation where you can discuss your goals for recovery and receive a thorough examination. If you would like to discuss your condition, please make an appointment.
Corticosteroid Injections
Corticosteroids help fight inflammation, signaled by heat, redness, pain, and swelling in an injured or inflamed part of the body. Corticosteroid shots ease pain faster than anti-inflammatory pills. When corticosteroids are injected into a joint, their effects are mostly limited to that joint. Steroid shots usually last up to one or two months. However, they can last longer, especially when used with other treatments such as physical therapy. Injections for certain conditions, such as acute joint pain, may also last longer. It’s best to limit steroid injections to three or four times a year.
Viscosupplementation
Hyaluronic acid injection, also called viscosupplementation, is used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) in patients who have already been treated with pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen) or corticosteroid injections. These hyaluronan injections are performed in Dr. Ference’s office. Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan, is a gel-like substance naturally present in the synovial fluid that lubricates your joints. Because arthritis patients lose hyaluronic acid as their joint wears away, viscosupplementation lubricates the joint to make it less painful. The injections are FDA-approved for knee osteoarthritis. There are several different types of hyaluronan that can be used. Dr. Ference will discuss your options during your office visit.
Arthroscopy (“scoping”) for Meniscus and ACL Tears
Knee arthroscopy — sometimes called knee scoping — is a minimally invasive medical procedure used on the knee joint to diagnose and treat meniscus tears and ACL tears. It’s performed under anesthesia at a hospital using an arthroscope, which is a tiny surgical instrument with a light and camera at the end that is inserted into the knee. Scoping helps the surgeon clean up the diseased cartilage, known as chondromalacia.
Partial Knee Arthroplasty (partial knee replacement)
If your knee cartilage is only worn away in one or two compartments of your knee, you may be a candidate for a Partial Knee Replacement (also called an arthroplasty) which spares cutting your ligaments and results in a more natural-feeling knee joint post-surgery. Using *Mako robotic technology, partial knee replacements can now be done with more precision and less recovery time. Your xrays, past health history, goals, and a comprehensive examination will allow Dr. Ference to determine if this is an option for you. *(To view a video about Mako partial knee replacement, click here.)
Total Knee Arthroplasty (total knee replacement)
If the cartilage in your knees are worn away or significantly damaged in all three compartments, you may be a candidate for a Total Knee Replacement (also known as an arthroplasty). The Mako robotic technology is now available to perform Total Knee Replacements. Dr. Ference performs a quadricep-sparing surgical approach which often leads to a faster recovery time. Your xrays and other images, past health history, goals, and a comprehensive examination will allow Dr. Ference to determine if this is a treatment option for you.
ACL Repair (Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair)
The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is a band of tissue within the knee. It gets damaged when it stretches or tears. If you strain or slightly tear your ACL, it may heal over time with your doctor’s help and physical therapy. But if it’s completely torn, you may need to have it replaced. Your MRI, xrays, past studies, and examination will be used to help Dr. Ference diagnose and treat an ACL tear.