Suffering with osteoarthritis knee pain? Understand your osteoarthritis If you have been suffering with or were recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, you should know that you are not alone.
Millions of people experience symptoms on a daily basis and need relief.
OA is the most common type of arthritis and the most common joint disease worldwide.
What is happening in your knee In a healthy knee, cartilage and lubricating joint fluid protect and cushion the bones, so it's easy to move and bend.
In a knee with OA Slippery tissue that covers and protects the end of the bones in the joints (cartilage) gradually deteriorates.
Fluid that cushions and lubricates the joints (synovial fluid) breaks down, losing its ability to absorb shocks.
Bones may start to rub against each other, causing pain, stiffness, and loss of range of movement.
OA of the knee can become debilitating, making it difficult to do the simplest day to day activities.
Because there is no known cure, your OA of the knee requires early and ongoing treatment.
Comparing a healthy knee with OA of the Knee OA of the knee is classified in different ways.
Some may characterize OA as a grade on a scale from 1(mild)to 4(severe).
Other doctors may describe OA as mild, moderate, or severe.
A healthy knee The surface of the cartilage at the knee joint is smooth and protected by joint fluid, allowing for freedom of movement without pain.
Mild OA The surface of the cartilage at your knee joint begins to wear down.
You may feel symptoms that are generally mild, including occasional pain from exercise and brief morning stiffness.
Moderate OA Joint cartilage continues to wear away, and joint fluid may lose its ability to lubricate and cushion the knee.
Bony growths or spurs may also form on the edges of the knee bones.
You may feel that movement is painful.
Severe OA Cartilage may wear away completely, causing bones to rub against each other.
You may feel your pain is more constant and severe, and your ability to perform daily activities has decreased.
What are the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee? Osteoarthritis of the knee usually develops slowly and gradually worsens over time, so you may notice a change in the degree of your symptoms.
The signs and symptoms develop in one or both knees.
The signs and symptoms range from mild to severe and may include.
Pain or grafting sensation during movement, and even pain at rest.
Stiffness after periods of rest Joint swelling Loss in function or range of movement What causes OA of the knee? There is no one cause, but rather several factors that may increase your chance of developing the condition.
Age: Your risk increases with age, most people develop the condition after age 45.
Obesity: Extra weight puts strain on the knees.
Gender: Osteoarthritis is more common in women.
Heredity: Inherited traits can affect the shape and stability of the joints.
Injury: Previous knee injuries, activities, and occupations that involve a lot of bending increase risk.
Know your treatment options If you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee you will need to see your doctor regularly to successfully manage your condition.
Your doctor will discuss options to reduce your pain and increases your ability to do daily activities.
Lifestyle changes Moderate exercise and /or physical therapy can help strengthen your muscles and increase your mobility.
Weight loss is recommended to reduce stress on knee joints if you are overweight Oral therapies Oral pain revilers, such as paracetamol ibuprofen, and other non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can provide pain relief.
These should not be taken long term, because they can cause stomach upset and other serious gastrointestinal (GI) side effects Glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate are treatment alternatives which, when taken daily, may also provide some levels of pain relief.
Viscosupplements Viscosupplements are intra-articular injections given either only once or weekly for 3-5 weeks (injections in to the joint space) that replace damaged joint fluid and may provide pain relief up to a year There are fewer chances of systemic side effects with viscosupplements, since they are injected directly in to the knee.
Local side effects are commonly mild and temporary and may involve injection-site pain and temporary swelling Total knee replacement is the last resort for patients whose knee pain is severe ans cannot be relieved with other treatment options.
The knee replacement is the best procedure for the osteoarthritis.
The knee problems can be rectified through the knee replacement procedure.