How to diagnose knee cartilage damage?

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How to diagnose knee cartilage damage?

Symptoms of a sprain, ligament damage and cartilage damage can often be similar. Making it difficult to differentiate one from the other. However, with today’s non-invasive tests, diagnosis is much easier than it used to be.

To confirm the source of your pain. Your doctor may order the following diagnostic tests.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

In an MRI, a magnetic field and radio waves create detail images of the body. This procedure may not always detect cartilage damage.

Arthroscopy

A tube-like instrument call arthroscope is inserted into your joint to examine it. An arthroscopy can help determine the extent of your cartilage damage.

Treating knee cartilage damage?

If your injury is not severe, non-surgical treatments such as injections and supplementations may suffice in treating your knee cartilage damage. Your doctor may suggest one of the following:

Injection therapy


Many patients ask for the magic bullet สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน or miracle injection therapy. This can be as simple as a cortisone injection (sometimes called a H+L). Which subdues inflammation and gives instant pain relief. However, this is akin to putting a band aid on the problem. It does not treat the root cause and its results are temporary.

Viscosupplementation

This procedure, where a thick fluid call hyaluronic acid is injecte into the joint, is recommend for patients with small early cartilage defects or injuries. Hyaluronic acid acts as a lubricant to enable bones to move smoothly over each other and as a shock absorber for joint load. These treatments typically repeated every 6 to 12 months as the knee’s response to the hyaluronic acid diminishes over time.

Platelet-rich plasma injections

Over the past several years, much has written. About a preparation call platelet-rich plasma (PRP), although its potential effectiveness in the treatment of injuries is inconclusive.

Platelets are blood cells that contain proteins that help wounds to heal. Researchers theorise that, by injecting areas of inflammation or tissue damage with high concentrations of platelets. It can encourage wounds in this area to heal.