The ink had barely dried on newspaper headlines in September when doctors' offices were inundated with calls from patients whose arthritis medications had either been pulled from the shelves or linked to serious health risks.

"What are my options?" patients asked.

The answer for many knee arthritis patients may be joint fluid therapy or surgical intervention.

"More than 30 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, a condition in which the cushioning cartilage between bones wears away. Three of four of these people rely on medications to help manage arthritis symptoms like pain, stiffness and swelling," said Dr. D. Kelly Agnew, an orthopedic surgeon with Tri Rivers Surgical Associates.

"After the recall, a number of our patients have sought alternative treatment options. It's important for these patients to know there are other highly effective options for managing arthritis," he said.

For knee arthritis patients who find that medications are no longer an option for controlling joint pain, joint fluid therapy may provide relief.

"Joint fluid therapy, a newer treatment for osteoarthritis in the knee, may provide months of symptom relief and delay the need for joint replacement surgery in many patients," Dr. Agnew said.

This conservative treatment involves injecting a substance similar to one's own joint fluid into the affected knee. The fluid, derived from rooster combs, helps reduce friction from roughened cartilage and cushion the painful joint.

"Joint fluid therapy is most effective in patients with mild to moderate arthritis who find that medications and other non-surgical treatments no longer control their joint pain," Dr. Agnew said.

Patients receive five injections over the course of several weeks.

Patients usually notice some pain relief within the first week or two after their initial injection. The effects typically peak five to nine weeks after treatment and may last for six to 12 months.

When conservative treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications and joint injections no longer control discomfort, many patients consider knee replacement surgery.

Surgery patients typically experience a reduction in joint pain and stiffness and often find they can increase their activity level.

Knee replacement is the shaving away of degenerative cartilage with a small amount of underlying bone and resurfacing the joint with a metal and plastic or ceramic, metal and plastic joint in its place. This procedure can be performed through a traditional incision or by using minimally invasive techniques, which require a small incision and may result in less pain and a quicker recovery.

For information on knee arthritis, contact Tri Rivers Surgical.