Arthritis of the Knee and the Role of Modern Medicine in Combination With Alternative Therapy

Several forms of Arthritis of the Knee exist. Osteoarthritis is the most common and one of the leading causes of disability in the world today. Estimates in the US vary from 21 million to 40 million people who suffer from Osteoarthritis today. Other reports claim that half of the people in the world today will eventually suffer from Arthritis of the Knee.

Arthritis of the knee occurs for many reasons and few of the causes have been defined by modern medicine. Wearing of the lining of the joints caused by repeated use under trying circumstances such as running or the result of old injuries are some of the causes being explored today for Arthritis of the knee.

While the cause is poorly understood, the effects of Arthritis of the knee are clearly defined. The constant inflammation of joints in arthritis of the knee causes discomfort and further deterioration of the lining of the knees. The fluid cushion of the knee is reduced causing further damage to the lining of the knee joint. The lining of the knee joint wears thin and eventually bone against bone contact occurs damaging the bones themselves. The primary treatment in modern medicine for Arthritis of the Knee has been the use of anti-inflammatory medicines and joint replacement surgery for many years. Both of these treatments have other effects and should be considered with alternative treatments for Arthritis of the Knee. However anti-inflammatory drugs have many side effects that are undesirable. Knee replacement surgery can only be done once per knee and if performed too early may wear out resulting in physical limits.

Modern medicine tends to ignore or play down the ability of alternative treatments to help in combination with their treatments because they have a poor understanding of how they work in Arthritis of the Knee. Your physician is concerned with improving your health and functioning in a way he thoroughly understands and believes is best for you. The modern medical field simply has little or no motivation to understand or investigate alternative therapies related to Arthritis of the Knee and as a result most physicians have a poor understanding of how, why or even IF they work. Your physician does not want to recommend something he does not understand! There are few medical studies related to alternative treatments for Arthritis of the Knee.

My studies have provided several theories that help form opinions about alternative treatments of potential value. Every individual who tries an alternative treatment for Arthritis of the Knee needs to know that they are embarking on their own adventure to find the right combination of what works for them and their Arthritis of the Knee. Alternative treatments for Arthritis of the Knee work better when combined with a medical treatment plan. Speak to your physician about the alternatives you are trying so that he/she may assist if possible. Remember that your physician may be resistant to alternative treatments because they do not understand them but, YOU are in charge and have the right to make your own decisions. You are the person in pain and suffering from Arthritis of the Knee. Alternative treatments will not prevent people from needing joint replacement surgery in Arthritis of the Knee, but they may provide help and comfort before the surgery is needed. Alternative treatments may even help you to extend the time before you HAVE to have the joint replacement surgery for your Arthritis of the Knee.

And finally remember that you should try a combination of alternatives rather than what one company or person recommends. A good example of this is Chondroitin and Glucosamine combined with Gelatin. Studies performed on Chondroitin and Glucosamine do not mention Gelatin and yet the best responses I have been able to discover to date have always contained all three ingredients in treatments for Arthritis of the Knee.