Knee pain is the second most common form of chronic pain that millions of Americans experience each year. Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most well-known causes. At Hartman Family Wellness, Dr. Justin Hartman diagnoses and treats this prevalent cause of chronic knee pain with innovative methods. The unique set of services that he offers helps to regrow the cartilage for a permanent solution to your knee pain. If you’d like to learn more about how to relieve your osteoarthritis-related chronic pain, call or use the online booking tool and schedule an appointment at Dr. Hartman’s Colleyville, Texas office today.
Book an AppointmentHow does knee osteoarthritis cause knee pain?
Knee osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones in your knee joints gradually deteriorates. Cartilage is the firm, slippery tissue that permits smooth joint motion. In cases of knee osteoarthritis, your knee cartilage becomes rough due to chronic wear and tear. Eventually, you may be left with bone rubbing on bone, which causes painful symptoms.
What are the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of the condition include:
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Stiffness
- Loss of flexibility
- Grating sensation
- Bone spurs
What are risk factors that increase my risk of knee pain caused by knee osteoarthritis?
There are a variety of factors that can increase your risk of developing painful symptoms caused by knee osteoarthritis, including:
- Older age
- Sex (women have a higher risk)
- Obesity
- Joint injuries
- Genetics
- Bone deformities (usually from birth)
- Certain occupations that place repetitive stress on your knee joints can also increase your risk.
How do you diagnose knee pain caused by knee osteoarthritis?
Dr. Hartman assesses your knee pain in the clinic by asking you questions about your symptoms and performing a comprehensive physical exam. He typically offers a knee osteoarthritis diagnosis after viewing a digital X-ray of your knee in the clinic. X-Ray findings correlating to osteoarthritis include: joint space narrowing, bone spurs and calcium deposits and cysts underneath the cartilage.
How do you treat knee pain caused by knee osteoarthritis?
We have a process that works with proven equipment that is backed by research with by 21 white paper studies.
Knee Specific Decompression Traction Therapy
Our knee traction machine opens up the joint space in the knee through safe mechanical traction using 15-30 lbs. of force. This increases hydration of the joint, enhances blood circulation and breaks apart scar tissue as well as improves range of motion and spacing between the femur and tibia. This decreases greatly decreases inflammation in the joint and promotes the regeneration of the cartilage between the 2 bones.
Infrared Light Therapy
We have you use a state-of-the-art light therapy machine 1 to 2 times per day at home that is specially designed to work on the knees. This device will enhance the blood circulation to the cartilage by causing the formation of new blood vessels around the meniscus through a process called angiogenesis. This machine works synergistically with the nitric oxide products that we provide for you as a part of your nutrition kit as it enhances nitric oxide uptake in the knees which dilates blood vessels for optimal circulation to the bone and cartilage. Daily treatment speeds up the regeneration of knee cartilage. This treatment is a very important part of our program.
Nerve Re-Education Therapy
You will also receive a prescription-grade electrical stimulation unit to use daily at home. This device is unique in that it has a biofeedback feature that allows it to precisely re-educate the nerves of each individual patient for proper muscular function around the knees for stability and strength. We have you administer the therapy on the distal quadriceps just above the knee to reeducate the muscles supporting the knee. This machine helps with pain, blood circulation, and nerve function.