Knee joint replacement can be an expensive and painful procedure with months of required rehabilitation to return to your former walking self. However, if done successful it can relieve a great deal of pain caused by the bad knee. If you do not want to go through the procedure or do not have the money to pay for it, there are several different alternatives you can opt for instead.
Knee Brace
If you would like to opt out of surgery all together, then the knee brace may be the best alternative you have. The brace is used to transfer the weight the body places on the knee to other areas of the leg, which will relieve the pain caused when walking or doing other activities with your legs. You will commonly see athletes using knee braces when recovering from knee surgery because it helps protect and strengthen the knee.
Arthroscope
Arthroscope is another form of surgery, but does not require the joint to be removed. Instead, small incisions are made around the joint and inflamed tissues from both the joint and the area around it can be removed. This may be a good alternative for those who are younger and do not suffer from arthritis. If you do, it will not stop arthritis, and the joint pain will return eventually.
Knee Fusion
Knee fusions are for individuals who will not respond well to the knee joint replacement. If it is believed that replacing the joint will inevitably fail, this operation may be chosen. In the procedure, the ends of the femur and fibula bones are cut flat on both ends and the joint completely removed. They will than be attached together via pins and needles. After several months the bones will actually fuse together to create essentially one long bone. Once this occurs the knee will no longer bend; you will have a limp for the rest of your life, but the pain from the knee joint will be completely gone.
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