James B. Kyle MD

Nonsurgical Arthritis Treatment

It is a common misconception that orthopedic surgeons can only provide surgical options to patients with arthritis. Though Dr. Kyle specializes in hip and knee replacements, his goal is not to convince every patient to have surgery. In fact, he will only recommend surgery if he feels a patient will truly benefit and see great improvement from the procedure.

With that said, even mild to moderate hip and knee arthritis can affect a patient’s daily life. Dr. Kyle does not want his patients to have to live in pain if they are not ideal candidates for joint replacement surgery. There are several nonsurgical treatment options that can be offered to patients with hip and knee arthritis.

Who Can Benefit from Nonsurgical Arthritis Treatment?

Dr. Kyle recommends that all patients with hip or knee arthritis, from mild to severe, try nonsurgical treatment to see if it will help relieve symptoms. Though patients with very severe hip or knee arthritis may end up needing surgery, nonsurgical treatment may help reduce the severity of symptoms until they are ready for surgery.

Patients that may benefit the most from nonsurgical treatment include:

• Patients with mild to moderate hip or knee arthritis
• Patients who still have decent range of motion in the joint.
• Patients who have arthritis caused by an inflammatory or autoimmune disorder that can be treated with medication.
• Patients who are generally considered to be too young to have joint replacement surgery. Joint replacement implants last for several years, but patients who have joint replacement at a young age may “outlive” the implant. If that occurs, the patient would have to undergo a more complex revision procedure. Though Dr. Kyle is skilled in revision procedures, his goal is to help patients avoid them whenever possible.

It is important to note that arthritis damage cannot be cured or reversed. It can get worse over time without proper care and management. Patients that start with nonsurgical treatment before arthritis progress to the point of disability may be able to avoid surgery completely or delay it for a longer period of time.

Nonsurgical Options for Hip & Knee Arthritis

There are several nonsurgical treatment options available for hip and knee arthritis. Dr. Kyle typically recommends that patients start with the most simple, conservative options and build up to additional treatments as needed.

Nonsurgical treatments may include:

Medications
Arthritis typically causes pain and inflammation in the joints. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may be recommended to help reduce pain and swelling. If over-the-counter medications are not effective, prescription medications may be recommended.

For patients with arthritis caused by inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, medications also play an important role in controlling the disorder and reducing joint inflammation. This includes conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Lifestyle Modification & Assistive Devices
Sometimes, making lifestyle changes can improve arthritis pain. This may include avoiding activities that make pain and swelling worse, taking time to rest throughout the day, and avoiding walking for long periods of time. Assistive devices like canes can also be incorporated into your daily routine to help you get around. A knee brace can also help to support the knee throughout the day, which may help to reduce the stress on the joint.

Weight loss is another lifestyle change that can have a positive impact on arthritis. When a person is overweight, their hips and knees take on additional stress. Losing weight can relieve some of the pressure on the joints, which can improve arthritis symptoms.

Physical & Occupational Therapy
Rehabilitative medicine is an amazing way to stretch and strengthen your muscles and tissue around the affected area. It can alleviate pain and stiffness, and also increases flexibility and range of motion.

Dr. Kyle’s practice has physical therapists on staff who work with patients at two convenient locations in the Lafayette area. Our physical therapists will work with patients at our office locations, and also teach patients exercises that they can do daily at home.

Injections
If oral medications do not provide sufficient relief from joint pain and inflammation, injections may be recommended. Though injections may need to be repeated, the results can last for several weeks or months.

Dr. Kyle offers two different types of injections for hip and knee arthritis:

• Cortisone injections - Injecting cortisone into the joint can alleviate pain and reduce swelling.
• Viscosupplementation - Viscosupplementation is the process of injecting hyaluronic acid into the joint. This can help to lubricate the joint, which may reduce some of the pain caused by friction in the joint.

Nonsurgical Arthritis Treatment in Lafayette, LA

Dr. James Kyle is a board certified and fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement. However, his goal is not to convince every patient that they need to have joint replacement surgery to have relief from hip and knee arthritis. Dr. Kyle recommends that his patients try nonsurgical treatment before considering surgery, and offers several options to help patients manage arthritis symptoms. Many patients benefit from nonsurgical treatment, especially in the earlier stages of arthritis. Surgery is only considered when nonsurgical treatments are ineffective.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kyle, please call our office at 337-235-8007 or fill out our contact form.