Millions of Americans suffer daily with chronic knee pain, which can affect their ability to perform day-to-day tasks and ultimately greatly diminishes quality of life. A recent survey by the American Osteopathic Association found that nearly 1 in 2 Americans accept that chronic pain is just a part of life, and 41% believe chronic pain is an inevitable part of aging.

Most people keep silent about their chronic knee pain. The truth, however, is that there are many readily available medical interventions to eliminate or greatly improve knee pain. One such intervention is knee arthroscopy.

What is Knee Arthroscopy?

A minimally invasive surgical procedure wherein either local, regional, or general anesthesia is administered. Knee arthroscopy uses small incisions to improve healing times. During the procedure, a sterile saline solution is injected to inflate the inside of the knee area, and an arthroscope is inserted.

An arthroscope is a small tube about the circumference of a pencil with a video monitor on the end that transmits an enlarged image to a screen. This allows Dr. Talkington to investigate the source of the problem, diagnose, and treat the issue all at once. Other surgical instruments may be used to remove problem tissues or make repairs to bones, muscles, or ligaments.

When the procedure is complete, the saline solution is drained, and the incisions are sutured, or stitched closed. The knee is commonly wrapped with an ace bandage for stability. Dr. Talkington may provide a prescription for pain medication, as well as coordinate with other health care providers regarding what knee exercises will help expedite recovery and make arrangements for physical therapy.

Conditions That Benefit from Knee Arthroscopy

The following list is just a sampling of the many knee conditions that greatly benefit from knee arthroscopy:

• • Torn cartilage between the bones of the knee, known as the meniscus.
  • Torn or damaged ACL or PCL, as well as other ligament tears in the knee.
  • Swollen or damaged synovium (joint lining) of the knee joint.
  • Patella (knee cap) misalignment.
  • Removal of small pieces of broken cartilage or bone within the knee.
  • Removal of Baker’s cysts, a swelling behind the knee that commonly occurs as a result of arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.
  • Some fractures of the bones in the knee.
  • Bone spurs, which are small protrusions from the knee bones that can cause discomfort.

These conditions are very common, either due to acute injury or repetitive stress injury. Knee arthroscopy is a very effective procedure for remedying these common conditions.

Benefits of Knee Arthroscopy

Most patients undergoing knee arthroscopy are discharged later that same day, meaning this procedure is generally performed as outpatient surgery. Patients undergoing knee arthroscopy are able to return to almost all normal activity within 7 days of having the procedure, with full activity returning in 6 to 8 weeks.

In many instances, knee arthroscopy is the best method to completely and accurately diagnosis knee pain. Because it is a minimally invasive procedure, your risk of infection and pain is reduced.

Regardless of age and life circumstances, daily pain is not normal.There’s no need to put off seeking relief. At Florida Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, Dr. James Talkington’s orthopedic and sports medicine expertise ensures the highest quality of care and makes going through this procedure easy.

How would your life improve if you could finally be free from knee pain every day? You don’t have to wonder any longer.