The knee can be affected by osteoarthritis, a very common chronic condition. It is crucial to diagnose it, alleviate discomfort and restore the knee’s functionality.
The knee is one of the largest joints in our body and also one of the most prone to osteoarthritis.
It comprises various components – bones, ligaments, tendons and cartilage – that together create a perfect mechanism.
Its fundamental task is to support our entire weight and allow free and stable movement.
When something stops functioning correctly, the knee can suffer from inflammation and wear.
Over time it can be affected by osteoarthritis, a widespread chronic condition characterized by a combination of pain and difficulty moving.
Therefore it is essential to alleviate discomfort and restore full functionality to the knee.
In this article we will detail:
1 – What is the best treatment for knee osteoarthritis?
2 – Are there exercises to avoid if you have osteoarthritis?
3 – What causes swelling after surgery?
4 – Is knee replacement surgery covered by health insurance?
1 – What is the best treatment for knee osteoarthritis?
The choice of therapy is a decision made during a consultation between the patient and the doctor, evaluating all possibilities.
Knee osteoarthritis is a disease of the cartilage, which gradually deteriorates and wears away, becoming thinner and fragmented. In advanced stages the bones can no longer glide over each other and the joint becomes rigid.
It is one of the most common diseases, affecting about 16% of the population. The numbers increase with age: about 68% of women and 48% of men over 75 report suffering from it.
The disease can worsen with significant overweight and strenuous work and pain can occur even at rest. It is potentially disabling and, if not adequately treated, it can lead to total disability.
In the early stages conservative treatment – pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs, supplements, physiotherapy, cryotherapy – is usually applied to help reduce pain and swelling.
A healthy, balanced diet also helps reduce the load on the joints.
Physiotherapy is one of the most commonly used remedies to alleviate the problem; light and controlled exercise can also help strengthen the leg muscles.
For severe cases of osteoarthritis these treatments cannot eliminate the symptoms and above all the pain definitively.
It then becomes necessary to proceed with replacement for a definitive cure.
Prosthetic surgery is a highly successful procedure that provides excellent results in terms of pain relief, patient autonomy and recovery speed.
With surgery you have a solution that guarantees an improved quality of life, allowing you to start moving without pain immediately.
If you want to learn more about the surgery, read this article.
2 – Are there exercises to avoid if you have osteoarthritis?
If, after a thorough examination, you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, it is helpful to know which exercises and sports to avoid to prevent worsening the pain caused by inflammation.
There are two exercises that can worsen the condition if you haven’t yet undergone prosthetic surgery:
1. Squats and Lunges
These put a lot of strain on the knees, potentially worsening the pain;
2. Leg Extensions – Leg Press
Common gym equipment, but not ideal for those with knee osteoarthritis, as the weight can exert excessive pressure on the knees and worsen the symptoms.
These movements can also increase joint wear.
There are also some sports to be cautious about if you have knee pain.
Sports that involve running can endanger the joint’s health: basketball, volleyball, American football, rugby, weightlifting and tennis.
High-impact activities such as jumping can also increase pain and further damage the joint.
Sports like soccer, with frequent contacts and changes of direction, that stress the cruciate ligaments or menisci, can promote the onset of osteoarthritis over time.
Want to know which sports are suitable for your condition?
Discover them in this article.
3 – What causes knee swelling after surgery?
Many patients experience swelling around the knee after surgery.
It is a common consequence caused by the accumulation of fluids and blood in the tissues around the joint, thigh or calf, even when the surgery is performed perfectly.
This is entirely normal for several reasons.
Surgery causes trauma to the involved tissues, which react with edema and swelling, as well as bruising.
Blood vessels around the area can also be damaged, causing fluid to leak into the tissues.
To reduce swelling you can:
- elevate and keep the leg elevated to reduce fluid accumulation in the knee;
- apply ice to the affected area for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day; advanced cryotherapy with Game Ready or Cryo Cuff is also useful;
- take painkillers and anti-edema medications.
Monitoring the swelling level and intervening to reduce it is essential to avoid worsening the situation and risking complications such as infections or blood clots.
How to prevent swelling after surgery?
Preventive measures are multidisciplinary.
Proper pre-hospitalization preparation for the surgery is followed by a minimally invasive procedure with careful control of intraoperative bleeding.
Modern pharmacological strategies for managing bleeding and edema, along with contemporary anesthesiological strategies, are also essential.
Correct physiotherapy to reactivate venous and lymphatic drainage and keep the knee moving helps the leg muscles. In the immediate postoperative period it is important to find a balance between rest and exercise.
Pre-operative exercise can simplify recovery after surgery, as can maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet.
Learn more in this other article.
4 – Is knee replacement surgery covered by health insurance?
One of the things you can check before surgery is whether your health insurance covers the procedure.
Only then you can choose with complete peace of mind, when and with whom to undergo the surgery.
In Italy most health insurance plans cover all costs.
Different surgical procedures involving total or partial knee replacement can be performed:
- in advanced stages of osteoarthritis with severe joint wear, ligament compromise and significant lower limb deformity, total replacement surgery is indicated, meaning the entire joint is replaced;
- in cases of localized osteoarthritis, replacing only one compartment of the joint, preserving all other structures not affected by degenerative pathology, may suffice. This is called unicompartmental replacement.
The goal is always to restore full joint mobility and eliminate pain.
Most patients undergoing knee replacement surgery return home within 3-5 days with a physiotherapy regimen to continue, helping them regain strength and range of motion.
How much does the surgery cost?
The cost of surgery varies based on several factors, such as the type of procedure, the surgeon’s experience, the surgery location and how the service is provided.
The surgery can be performed privately through health insurance, or via the national health system (S.S.N.).
With health insurance coverage you can book your surgery privately and decide when to be operated on, usually within twenty days.
If you want, read here a testimonial about how a patient’s life changed after the surgery.
Or you can contact Dr. Vanni Strigelli, a highly specialized surgeon in treating this condition, for any information.
