My mother is 54 and having osteoarthritis. She has pain in her knees since 10 years and now it has become really worse. Doctor has advised us for changing of one of her knee where the gap between bones has become negligible. She is very hesitant of surgery and we are also afraid that how will it go? Will it be successful? She is overweight and not so old to get her bones changed. But then we see her screaming in pain. We are in a dilemma about her future. Is it safe? Or is there any other cure without surgery?

Ans: Hi,
Your wife must visit a physio and get an exercise protocol for strengthening her knees

Ans: Good morning. Given your wife's condition, where the knee joint gap is almost negligible, I would first recommend opting for conservative management through physiotherapy and medication before considering knee replacement surgery.

Focus on strengthening the muscles around the knee, such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles, with exercises like leg lifts, hamstring curls, and calf raises. Perform exercises to maintain and improve the knee's range of motion, including knee bends and stretches. Engage in low-impact activities like swimming, cycling, or using an elliptical machine to reduce stress on the knee while maintaining cardiovascular fitness.

Include exercises that improve balance and stability to help prevent falls and further injury. Starting with physiotherapy and conservative management can often provide significant relief and improve quality of life, potentially delaying or even avoiding the need for surgery.