By the way, doctor: Should I have my knee replaced?
Even if you have x-ray evidence of advanced arthritic changes in the joint, there are noninvasive strategies you can try before considering knee replacement. If you're overweight, losing weight may help relieve the pain by reducing the load on your knee. Using a cane is another way to decrease the load. A knee brace and shoe inserts can help align the knee and improve weight distribution. You can also do exercises to strengthen the muscles involved in proper knee alignment.
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