Nonsurgical Knee Arthritis Treatment in Raleigh & Cary, NC

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Knee arthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic knee pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of mobility. While some patients with advanced arthritis ultimately benefit from knee replacement surgery, many people can manage their symptoms and remain active with nonsurgical treatment.

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At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, our physicians specialize in evaluating and treating knee arthritis without surgery whenever appropriate. With locations in Raleigh and Cary, NC, we offer traditional nonsurgical orthopedic care as well as advanced image-guided and regenerative treatment options.

The goal is not simply to recommend an injection. We first determine the severity of your arthritis, identify other structures that may be contributing to your pain, and then develop an individualized treatment plan.

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What Causes Knee Arthritis?

Knee arthritis develops when the cartilage and other structures within the knee joint become damaged or degenerate over time.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of knee arthritis. It occurs as the cartilage covering the surfaces of the knee gradually deteriorates.

Factors that may contribute to knee osteoarthritis include:

• Age

• Genetics and family history

• Previous meniscus or ligament injuries

• Prior knee surgery

• Excess body weight

• Repetitive stress on the knee

• Previous fractures or traumatic injuries

• Abnormal joint mechanics

Other causes of knee arthritis include inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, gout, and pseudogout.

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Symptoms of Knee Arthritis

Symptoms can vary considerably depending on the severity and location of the arthritis.

Common symptoms include:

• Knee pain with walking or exercise

• Pain going up or down stairs

• Morning stiffness

• Swelling

• Loss of motion

• Grinding or clicking

• Difficulty squatting or kneeling

• Pain after prolonged sitting

• Reduced ability to participate in sports or exercise

Importantly, the amount of arthritis seen on an X-ray does not always correspond directly with the amount of pain a patient experiences.

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How We Evaluate Knee Arthritis

Successful treatment begins with determining what is actually causing your knee pain.

At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, evaluation may include a medical history, orthopedic examination, review of previous imaging, and additional imaging when appropriate.

Our offices offer diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound and digital X-ray. Ultrasound can also help evaluate structures around the knee, including tendons, ligaments, cysts, fluid collections, and other potential sources of pain.

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High-Dose PRP for Knee Arthritis

PRP is created from a small sample of your own blood that is processed to concentrate platelets and healing growth factors. At our clinic we typically use high-dose PRP (double-spin PRP), which produces a higher concentration of platelets and growth factors compared to basic PRP systems. These concentrated healing factors are injected into the knee joint using ultrasound guidance to help stimulate the body’s natural repair response.

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High-dose PRP may be helpful for:

• Mild to moderate knee arthritis
• Early cartilage wear
• Knee pain with activity
• Patients trying to slow progression of arthritis

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PRP works by reducing inflammation and supporting cartilage health, helping the knee function more comfortably.

MFAT Cell Therapy for Moderate to Severe Arthritis

For more advanced arthritis, MFAT cell therapy may provide a stronger regenerative treatment.

MFAT uses healing cells obtained from a small sample of the patient’s own fat tissue. These regenerative cells release signaling molecules that help calm inflammation and improve the environment inside the knee joint.

 

MFAT may be particularly helpful for:

• Moderate to severe knee arthritis
• Patients trying to delay knee replacement
• Arthritis with meniscus degeneration
• Patients who have not improved with other treatments

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Treating the Entire Knee Joint

Knee arthritis rarely affects just one structure. Pain often involves a combination of issues affecting the cartilage surfaces, meniscus, ligaments, and joint lining. 

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At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, we often take a comprehensive knee treatment approach rather than injecting a single location.

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This may include evaluating and treating:

• The knee joint space
• Areas of cartilage degeneration
• Degenerative meniscus tissue
• Supporting ligaments around the knee

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By improving the overall biologic environment of the knee, regenerative treatments may provide more meaningful and longer-lasting relief.

Nonsurgical Knee Arthritis Treatment in Raleigh and Cary

Regenerative treatments such as high-dose PRP and MFAT allow physicians to use the body’s natural healing processes instead of relying on repeated steroid injections.

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At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics we focus on advanced nonsurgical treatments that help patients stay active and avoid unnecessary surgery whenever possible.

If you are experiencing knee arthritis pain in Raleigh or Cary, regenerative treatments may be an option.

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NEW 2025 STUDY : Platelet-Rich Plasma Is More Effective Than Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

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