Imagine, if you will, a nagging knee pain. Not to the point of limiting daily activity, but certinly limiting sporting activity.

What is the first approach? And if that doesn’t work?

In general, you can imagine a ladder: Physical, Chemical, Surgical. This is not unlike Galen’s idea of lifestyle, (regimen) pharmaceutical (drugs) and surgical (I have moderised it slightly) which, if nothing else demostrates continuity of thought for a good 1500 years.

In the case of the knee pain, the first step is to either seek professional input to correct any functional imbalances, or work on them yourself. If it is more inflammatory, then pain managment and anti-inflammatories can assist, especially if you subsequently require suppport from a rheumatologist. Only when all other options have been attempted, then consider surgery.

Surgery is interesting conceptually. It does not fix anything. If fact, no form of medicine ever heals the body. It simply creates the space and capacity, by supporting homeostasis, to allow the body to fix itself. So a surgeon cannot fix your knee, they can simply aim to restore function and reduce pain, whether through arthroscopy or replacement. And for most, that is sufficent.

How do we fit into this picture? We offer 20 years of physical therapy and functional rehabilitation experience, including pre and post surgical, information and support.