Your Guide to Knee Replacement Surgery and Alternatives
- Sara Becker, PT, DPT
- 18 hours ago
- 6 min read
If knee pain is limiting your mobility and quality of life, you may be wondering whether it’s time to consider knee replacement—or if there are better, less invasive knee replacement alternatives to try first. Either way, making the right decision starts with understanding your options.
At Releaseology, I specialize in helping clients address chronic pain and dysfunction from the root. Whether you're exploring knee replacement near me, already scheduled for surgery, or just beginning your journey, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Disclaimer: The content on this site and my posts are for educational and informational purposes only and not meant as medical advice. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace a relationship with a qualified healthcare professional. There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Please consult a clinician that is familiar with your care, if you have specific questions for your own care.
What is Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee replacement, also called knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure that involves removing damaged cartilage and bone from the knee joint and replacing it with artificial components. This can significantly reduce pain and improve function—especially in cases of severe arthritis or injury.
There are two types:
Total Knee Replacement (TKR) – both sides of the knee joint are replaced.
Partial Knee Replacement – only the damaged portion of the knee is replaced, preserving more natural tissue.
Knee Replacement Recovery: What to Expect
Recovery from a knee replacement varies by individual, but here’s a general knee replacement recovery time outline:
Days 1–3: Begin walking with support; a knee replacement nerve block may be used for pain management.
Week 1–2: Home or outpatient knee replacement therapy begins. Light daily activities are encouraged.
Weeks 3–6: Significant mobility returns; swelling and stiffness decrease.
Weeks 6–12: Most patients resume normal, low-impact activities.
Full recovery can take 3–6 months. The typical knee replacement lifespan is 15–20 years, with advances in materials now pushing that closer to 25 years for some.
I will say from experience of treating patients post-surgery, all surgeries take longer to rehab than most people think. When I broke my ankle, although it was healed in 6-8 weeks, it took TWO YEARS for it to FEEL normal. These are not the timelines that doctors will tell you. I was still mobile and active, there was just a lot of compensation or instances of my ankle getting stuck.
Alternatives to Knee Replacement
Surgery isn't your only option. Many patients find relief through knee replacement alternatives that address the root cause of their pain and dysfunction. These include:
Cupping Therapy: This ancient practice improves circulation, relieves tension, and helps reduce inflammation around the knee joint. The cupping sets I use are below:
https://amzn.to/3RjK50a - this is the set I have at home
https://amzn.to/4b0AqlP - this is the set I have in the clinic
Myofascial Release: Targeting the fascia, this hands-on technique can address restrictions causing knee stiffness and pain.
Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques like neurokinetic therapy (NKT), myofascial release, and cupping can restore function, release compensations, and reduce pain without drugs or surgery.
Dry Needling: Chronic knee pain often involves more than just the joint. Our treatments calm overactive nerves and reduce tension patterns at the source.
Joint Injections & Regenerative Medicine: For some, steroid injections or regenerative treatments (like PRP) offer relief and delay or prevent surgery.
Exercises: Targeted exercises to re-engage and stretch specific muscles can be very effective. With Releaseology, I often find which muscles need to be "woken" up and worked, a specific example is the IT band is usually inactive for most people - it does not need release
Heat Therapy: Applying heat to sore areas is one of the simplest and most effective ways to ease muscle tension and stiffness. Heat increases blood flow, relaxes muscles, and reduces pain signals. Apply a moist heating pad for 15–20 minutes. Avoid excessive heat to prevent burns. NOTE that moist heating pads are the most effective. My favorite brands are Thermophore and Thermipaq
Please Note: Some links on my site are affiliate links, which means that I collect a small portion of your sale, at no extra cost to you. This helps with the cost of running a website, providing services, etc.
Cold Therapy: Can help to decrease the inflammation as well as numb the area. Thermipaq has a a great cold pack that stays cold or purchase a cold massager to roll over the symptomatic area
Topical Magnesium: our muscles use magnesium to contract and relax so using it topically can decrease muscle tightness (without upsetting your stomach). My favorite is Trace Minerals products. I prefer the Magnesium Lotion but they also have spray. You can get 20% off with my Fullscript link, you just need to sign-up for an account but can continue to use this indefinitely
CBD can work on both nervous system level and physical level of pain, making it super effective.
Arnica is anti-inflammatory and a fantastic use for pain, strains, sprains, bruising , carpel tunnel and swelling. You can use my Fullscripts link here as well for a discount on arnica
St. John's Wort can be used for nerve pain
Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Chronic pain often involves an overactive nervous system that is constantly living in fight-or-flight. Calming the nervous system can reduce pain intensity and promote healing. Society today is terrible to our nervous systems and the vagus nerve. It was not programmed to handle the frequency and intensity of the stressors of today’s world. Improving vagus nerve dysfunction teaches your system to be flexible when faced with a stressor or “trigger” and how to accurately “read” them and respond appropriately. I have many free resources for vagus nerve activation on my site at www.releaseology.com/vagus plus book with me with my services below. I ALWAYS recommend the NKT Vagus Nerve Combo to assess where the pain is coming from and then relieve you, but if you want full vagus nerve time, book the Vagus Nerve Harmony Massage. If you don't live locally, I also offer vagus nerve services virtually.
The Releaseology Difference in Knee Replacement Therapy
At Releaseology, I don’t just look at your knee—I look at your whole story - often uncovering the root-cause of your pain is in a muscle or structure that never bothered you: jaw, eyes, diaphragm, scar tissue or more. My process combines advanced manual techniques with nervous system regulation to reduce pain, improve function, and often help clients avoid surgery altogether.
Already had a knee replacement? I can support you post-op, too, with specialized knee replacement therapy to speed up recovery, restore strength, and optimize your outcomes.
Don't let knee pain hold you back! Book a session with me today and start your journey to recovery the right way. Any of these services will include an assessment and evaluation into your knee pain or book a consultation below
Disclaimer: The content on this site and my posts are for educational and informational purposes only and not meant as medical advice. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace a relationship with a qualified healthcare professional. There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Please consult a clinician that is familiar with your care, if you have specific questions for your own care.
Considering Knee Replacement? Let's Talk
Whether you’re exploring knee replacement options, looking for alternatives, or needing help with knee replacement recovery, we’re here to guide you with compassion, clarity, and results-driven care.
Book your consultation today and discover how Releaseology can help you move better, feel better, and avoid unnecessary surgery.
Medical Disclaimer
The content on this site and my posts are for educational and informational purposes only and not meant as medical advice. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace a relationship with a qualified healthcare professional. There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Please consult a clinician that is familiar with your care, if you have specific questions for your own care.
Essential Oils for Pain Relief
More from Releaseology
Don't forget to check out other resources on my site! You can book a session with me here, find a list of conditions I treat here, find more about me here, learn how to regulate your own vagus nerve and nervous system here and read more on my blog here. Lastly, follow me on my social channels: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok!
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