If one of your knees keeps acting up, it may be due to a major problem. Doctors can perform a variety of different surgical procedures to repair knee problems, and they can even complete knee-replacement surgeries if necessary. Going through a knee-replacement surgery can solve the major problems you are having; however, choosing this option is not usually the first suggestion from doctors. Before you decide on knee surgery, you may want to try some alternative treatment options to see whether they can help you find relief for your knee. Here are some of the options.

Lose Weight

One of the most common causes of knee problems is obesity. When you carry around a lot of extra weight, you are placing a lot of strain on your knees, and this will eventually lead to knee problems. If too much damage has not already been done to your knees from your weight, you might be able to find relief for your knee pain simply by losing weight.

Carrying around extra weight is also a leading cause of osteoarthritis, and this condition can affect all the joints in your body, including your knees. When you lose weight, you will not only reduce the risks of having knee pain and problems, but you will also reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis.

If you are currently overweight, your doctor might be able to help you find a weight-loss plan that could be effective for your situation and needs.

Physical Therapy

A second method that can help relieve knee pain and problems is physical therapy, but this may not help a lot if you are considered obese. If your weight is relatively normal, though, choosing to go to physical therapy can help with knee problems. Physical therapy has several key goals, and here are two of the main ones when used for treating knee problems:

1. Strengthen the knees and muscles used to control the knees
2. Improve mobility with the knees so that you can get around easier and with less pain

One of the main strategies used for treating knee pain in physical therapy is exercises that build the quadriceps. The quadriceps are a group of muscles found in the front part of your thighs. These muscles help the knees move and work, and they extend over your knee caps. If you can build more strength in these muscles, your knees are likely to work better and move easier.

Cortisone Shots

Another remedy that is often used to help people who have knee problems is cortisone shots. These shots are typically made up of corticosteroids, which are medications that can help reduce inflammation.

One of the key benefits of getting cortisone shots is that they work quickly. Within 24 to 48 hours, you are likely to feel relief from your pain. The downside to these shots is that they also wear off. They are not long-term solutions, and you will have to return to the doctor to get more shots after 6 to 12 weeks. In other words, using cortisone shots is a great way to help the pain at first, but it should not be considered a good long-term strategy for dealing with knee pain.

The best way to treat and solve the pain you are having is through weight loss and physical therapy. If these methods do not provide enough relief to you, you could always look into having knee surgery. Knee surgery can be a great method for treating many types of knee problems, and you can learn more about this by visiting a doctor that specializes in knee problems and surgery.