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Knee Pain - Surgery Isn't Always The Answer

Knee Pain – Surgery isn’t always the answer

Posted by on 07-09-2018

By: Jason Gallant, Registered Physiotherapist, Owner Trilogy Physiotherapy

The vast majority of people will experience knee pain in their lifetime, and this prevalence only increases as we age. The most common cause of this pain is damage to the meniscus, the cartilage between the knee bones. This can lead to knee pain, stiffness, and arthritis in the joint, and affects almost 40% of people over age 50, and almost 50% of people over 65. The most common procedure to fix this is arthroscopic surgery, which is performed over 2 million times each year across the globe.

A recent study from the British Medical Journal showed that arthroscopic surgery, while showing a very small improvement in pain after 3 months, did not show any long-term benefits in knee pain, function, or quality of life 1-2 years down the road. It was also shown to have greater short-term risks from the surgery, such as blood clots, infections, and lost income due to time off work.

The study strongly recommends that we take a conservative management strategy when dealing with knee pain. This involves exercise therapy prescribed by a physiotherapist Toronto, as well as medication.

So what does this all mean? Don’t rush into surgery! Some specialists may recommend the surgery without necessarily informing patients about all your treatment options. My advice is to work with your physician to get a treatment plan that works best for you, and always try a course of physiotherapy first. You may not see immediate results, but the research shows that a proper exercise program and treatment from a physiotherapist will benefit your knee more than surgery in the long run. It will avoid exposing you to the risks of surgery, and is less costly in terms of rehabilitation time and lost work hours. While surgery may be necessary in some situations, it should always be the last resort.

source: Siemieniuk RAC, Harris IA, Agoritsas T, et al. Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee arthritis and meniscal tears: a clinical practice guideline

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Bryce Lee
Bryce Lee
13 September 2023
Adam was super. Always positive and very encouraging thru my rehab.
Marcello Sapienza
Marcello Sapienza
10 August 2023
Excellent service . I highly recommend this clinic. Teresa the receptionist is very helpful and nice . Adam is a knowledgeable physiotherapist. And Fatima is a very good acupuncturist .
Samantha Duncan
Samantha Duncan
25 July 2023
Excellent experience with Adam - thorough and very personable.
Kristin Patterson
Kristin Patterson
26 June 2023
Marshall was very helpful and professional and worked with me on a very painful knee injury. i began a few months ago barely able to bend it or walk up and down stairs and have improved greatly with his program. i am now able to run up and downstairs with no problems and am almost back to 100%. the receptionists are also accommodating and professional and were easily able to process insurance claims, answer questions, and reschedule appts when i was sick or something came up. i was very impressed by my experience here and would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a new physio!
Adriano Trapani
Adriano Trapani
13 June 2023
Great experience. I had foot pain that wouldn’t go away so I came here and found so much assistance in regaining my mobility.
Kartik Uppal
Kartik Uppal
8 June 2023
Went to the Pape and Danforth clinic for a massage with Robert. Customer service from initial onset was with Therese. Was very patient with me when it came to form filling and billing. Robert was also extremely good at working on my pain points and being thorough with his explanations. Overall great massage, experience and education!
AD
AD
26 March 2023
Everyone at this clinic is very kind and professional- Would recommend!
Efficient Sense
Efficient Sense
7 January 2023
Trevor is great! He has guided me on my road to recovery. Staff is also friendly and knowledgeable. Nachi is also great!
Lucy Barron
Lucy Barron
5 December 2022
I would highly recommend the services of Trevor - he provided excellent care. I received a thorough assessment and a clear treatment plan. Trevor is knowledgeable, friendly and is a good communicator. The office is well-equipped and Mina at the front desk was always very welcoming.
Sabrina Oliver
Sabrina Oliver
15 November 2022
I have seen Trevor for several different problems over the years and he has always done an amazing job helping me with my recovery. He is knowledgeable in many areas and always happy to answer questions and explain what he is doing. He is thorough with assessment and treatment so you always feel like you are in good hands. He is also very honest and won't push you to keep coming if he doesn't feel you need it. Mina at the front desk is really welcoming and the clinic is very clean and comfortable. Overall a great physio experience and would highly recommend to anyone!