You've taken the anti-inflammatory medications. You’ve done the pain pills. You’ve even tried the hard-to-pronounce glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, the alternative supplements for osteoarthritis.
You've stayed off your knee. Walked with a cane. Done the cortisone injections and given physical therapy your best shot. You've even lost a few pounds to ease the pressure.
But your knee still hurts. A lot. You feel it before you get out of bed in the morning. Or maybe it stays swollen and has begun to bow. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you may need knee replacement surgery.