Knee Cartilage Injuries Non-Surgical Treatment

Can a cartilage defect be treated without surgery?

Some people live active lives, never knowing they have a cartilage defect and don’t have any knee pain. When knee symptoms develop, patients can choose to treat either the symptoms or treat the structure and symptoms. Conservative treatment treats only the symptoms of a cartilage defect of the knee.

Non-operative treatment of a cartilage defect involves a change in activities to avoid movements that cause knee pain, including taking time off from activities that cause knee pain, using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and inflammation, and physical therapy. Typically, symptoms will resolve within several weeks of conservative, non-surgical treatment. An injection of a steroid, hyaluronic acid (gel injection), or PRP can also help relieve knee pain. If your knee pain is resolved with non-operative treatment and you are able to return to your desired level of activity, then no surgery is needed.

Mild to moderate knee cartilage injuries may be managed with non-surgical treatments, including physical therapy, activity modification, bracing, and regenerative medicine therapies such as PRP or stem cell injections. These approaches can help reduce pain, improve function, and slow further cartilage damage. Dr. Jorge Chahla offers the latest non-surgical treatment options to help patients recover and maintain an active lifestyle. If you are looking for conservative management for knee cartilage damage, contact Dr. Chahla’s office in Chicago, Naperville, or Oak Brook for an evaluation.