OP – Alternative to painkillers
If conservative measures do not lead to the desired success in the case of knee arthrosis, surgery is considered as the next step. As a rule, this is done arthroscopically, i.e. by means of a minimally invasive procedure. Depending on the stage of the arthrosis, different procedures can be considered: simple arthroscopy to remove free joint bodies a microfracture, in which free cartilage parts are removed during arthroscopy and small injuries are specifically placed on the bone to promote the production of replacement cartilage from connective tissue The cartilage transplantation, A partial knee prosthesis that replaces only the damaged part of the knee joint A knee TEP if the knee is completely stiffened by the arthrosis and the pain cannot be controlled in the conventional way
- Simple arthroscopy to remove free joint bodies
- A microfracturing procedure in which free cartilage is removed during arthroscopy and small injuries are specifically placed on the bone to promote the production of replacement cartilage from connective tissue
- Cartilage transplantation, in which cartilage cultivated in the laboratory is used and grows together with the joint cartilage within a few weeks
- A partial knee prosthesis that replaces only the damaged part of the knee joint
- A knee TEP if the knee is completely stiffened by the arthrosis and the pain is not controlled in the conventional way
If knee joint arthrosis has to be treated surgically, pain is normal in the first days after the operation.
Of course, the primary goal of the operation is to relieve the pain caused by the knee arthrosis. Nevertheless, the surgical procedure places additional stress on the affected knee joint, irritating and straining the structures within the joint. Bruising in the joint, fresh operation scars and, depending on the selected operation procedure, irritation of the bone occurs, causing many affected persons to feel pain, especially in the first days after the operation.
However, the pain can usually be well controlled by the administration of painkillers, which are slowly released. If physiotherapy is started, the passive movements performed there can also cause pain. This is because injured tissue is stretched and muscles that have not been used for a long time are moved. If the knee joint is allowed to be loaded again and the active part of rehabilitation is started, pain may occur there as well, since the knee joint must first regain its mobility, strength and flexibility. If the pain after the operation is unusually severe, increasing or accompanied by inflammation, a doctor should be consulted again to clarify the cause.