Question
I am only 39 and recently diagnosed with moderate to severe osteoarthritis in the medial compartment and under the kneecap of my knee. The orthopedic dr. states the only way to “fix” my knee is a total knee replacement but that is not even a possibility for another 10-15 years due to my age. Arthroscopic debridement, medication, exercise and losing weight is not decreasing my pain. What do you think of using unloading braces such as the Breg X2K Counterforce Knee Brace and the UniSpacer surgery for decreasing pain with the osteoarthritis until I’m old enough for replacement?
Answer
I think you may be an ideal candidate for both those approaches– a young person with only uni-compartmental disease. The easiest to try is the brace– it is cumbersome and weighty (and not in the intellectual sense). I have heard mixed reviews on the unispacer from my orthopedic colleagues, but I agree with trying limted procedures prior to total knee replacement.
