Knee arthritis is a painful condition but many people would rather defer any kind of surgery for as long as possible, for any number of different reasons. So how can you effectively relieve knee arthritis pain without having to resort to surgical measures:

Moderate Exercise – Activities such as running or team sports may increase your knee arthritis pain but doctors recommend that you still remain as physically active as you possibly can, as total inactivity will lead to muscle wastage and bone loss, two things that could aggravate your problems.

A Cane – An old fashioned and simple solution that can be very effective, if only people were not too vain to use one.  Make sure that the cane you use is the right height (many of those available today are adjustable to accommodate different footwear) and always use the cane in the opposite hand to the affected knee.

Cortisone Injections – Mild to moderate knee arthritis pain can often be relieved rather effectively with a course of cortisone injections. Should an initial shot bring pain relief it is usually recommended to repeat the treatment every three to four months. The amount of cortisone in each shot is very small and harmful side effects are rare. Unfortunately cortisone shots are usually of little benefit to those with very advanced knee arthritis though.

Knee Supports – Most knee arthritis sufferers get little benefit from a traditional knee brace but specialized braces that are becoming available have had better results, as have certain wedges to be worn in the shoes.

NSAIDS – Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs have been demonstrated to be rather effective for treating mild to moderate knee arthritis pain. There are a number of different kinds of NSAIDs available from over the counter medications such as Aleve to stronger drugs available only with a prescription. You should discuss which one of them might be right for you with your physician and discuss the possible side effects before taking them on regular basis.

All of this said if your knee arthritis pain is simply not responding in any way to these kinds of conservative treatments you may want to give knee replacement surgery a second look. If you find a surgeon who you feel comfortable with and is experienced in the field knee replacement surgery may indeed free you of any more years living with the misery of knee arthritis pain.