Whether you need knee replacement surgery is influenced by several factors, including your genetic predisposition and how you have used your body. 

“Normally, smooth, shiny cartilage coats the ends of the knee joint,” says orthopedic surgeon Thomas K. John, M.D. “This keeps the space open, allowing the ligaments to stay in tension, maintaining the alignment of the knee. When the cartilage wears out, the ends of the bone start rubbing against each other. This causes friction, stiffness and pain. In addition, the ligaments can become looser and the knee may develop a deformity like ‘bow leg’ or ‘knock knee.’”

But there are things you can do at any age to extend the health of your knee joints and postpone or prevent having your knees replaced.

How to Support Your Knee Health

Dr. John says the best way to keep knees healthy is maintaining lifelong habits including: 

• Eating a balanced diet that helps maintain a healthy weight
• Avoiding smoking, which can increase oxidant stress and weaken bones
• Staying active

There are a wide range of ways to help support and maintain weak knees. “Sometimes these options preserve knees for a lifetime, but for other people, they are more of a delaying tactic,” Dr. John says. Examples include: 

• Over-the-counter knee braces
• Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen 
• Topical creams and pain patches
• Injectable medications like cortisone and hyaluronic acid for pain relief 

Dr. John adds that patients who are living with knee pain often ask about whether nutritional supplements will help. He tells them: “Unfortunately, the data is sparse on this topic, but there is mixed evidence and a lot of work being done looking at the use of glucosamine, chondroitin collagen and turmeric, among other antioxidants, and how they might preserve cartilage.”

Five Signs Your Knees May Need Surgical Replacement

1. Pain in your knees that slows you down regardless of remedies you’ve tried
2. Instability or weakness that causes your knee to buckle, possibly causing you to fall
3. Limping from the pain that causes you to strain other body parts like the back or hip
4. Stiffness that does not get better as the day goes on
5. Needing to take multiple medications, like NSAIDs, or even narcotics to quell the pain

For those who eventually need knee replacement to relieve pain and allow good function, newer surgical techniques have significantly reduced the surgical risks and healing time that previously were associated with the surgery. 

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Thomas K. John, M.D.
• To make an appointment with Dr. John or an orthopedic surgeon near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
• Take our health risk assessment to learn about your knee or hip health.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.