How Do You Treat Bone on Bone Knee Pain?

Treating bone-on-bone knee pain, often resulting from advanced osteoarthritis, involves a variety of approaches aimed at reducing pain and improving function. While there is no cure to reverse bone-on-bone contact, treatments focus on managing symptoms and slowing down the disease progression.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

The first line of treatment usually involves non-surgical methods. These are focused on relieving pain, improving mobility and function. Here are the most common approaches:

• Physical Therapy: This is a key component for managing pain and improving knee function.
  • Exercises: Specific exercises can strengthen the muscles around the knee, providing better support and stability, and reducing the stress on the joint.
  • Range of Motion Exercises: These exercises help to maintain or improve flexibility, preventing the knee from becoming too stiff.
  • Examples: Include quad strengthening, hamstring stretches, and balance training.
• Pain Medications: Over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers can help manage pain.
  • Over-the-counter options: Include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen.
  • Prescription options: May include stronger NSAIDs or other pain relievers, and should be used under the direction of a doctor.
• Corticosteroid Injections: These injections can provide short-term pain relief by reducing inflammation in the knee joint.
  • Mechanism: Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatories that can provide significant pain relief.
  • Duration: Effects typically last a few weeks to a few months, and are usually not a long-term solution.
• Assistive Devices: These are tools that can reduce pressure on the knee joint.
  • Braces: Can help to stabilize the knee and redistribute weight, reducing stress on the affected areas.
    • Types: Include unloader braces, which shift pressure away from the damaged area of the knee.
  • Crutches: Reduce the overall load on the knee.
    • Purpose: Useful when severe pain makes weight bearing difficult.

Treatment	Description	Benefits	Duration of Effect
Physical Therapy	Exercises and techniques to improve muscle strength and joint mobility.	Strengthens muscles, improves stability and reduces joint stress.	Ongoing, if exercises are maintained.
Pain Medications	Over-the-counter or prescription drugs that help relieve pain.	Reduces pain and inflammation.	Short term, while taking medication.
Corticosteroid Injections	Injections directly into the joint to reduce inflammation.	Provides short term pain relief, reduce inflammation.	Typically a few weeks to a few months.
Assistive Devices	Tools like braces or crutches to reduce pressure on the joint.	Reduce pressure on the joint, improve stability and mobility.	While device is in use.

It's important to consult with a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis and to determine the best treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. These treatments aim to reduce pain, improve joint function, and slow down the progression of osteoarthritis.