What is arthritis of the knee?
Arthritis in the knee occurs when degenerative changes develop in the cartilage that lines the knee joint. It affects the surrounding tissues and other connective tissues. The protective pieces of cartilage keep the bones in the knee from rubbing together, which can be very painful. Making it hard to do our many daily activities such as climbing stairs, getting up from sitting, and walking.
Facts about the arthritis of the knee
● A problem in the immune
system causes RA of the knee. It can develop quickly, leading to problems in
the whole body.
● It mainly affects people
of all age groups, but it tends to affect more women than men.
● The two types of arthritis
of the knee: rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.
● RA of the knee is
incurable. However, there are available treatments to reduce the pain.
● In some cases, knee
surgery/replacement is the last resort to manage arthritis of the knee.
· The importance of practicing self-awareness
to identify what triggers arthritis in the knee is the key to managing the
pain...
Types
of arthritis of the knee
The two most common arthritis types that affect the knee are:
1) Osteoarthritis: the most common form of arthritis in the knee. It
is a degenerative type of arthritis. The cushion layer between one's bones or
cartilage tends to wear away, causing the bones to rub together painfully.
2) Rheumatoid Arthritis: RA is an autoimmune disease. The immune
system damages normal tissue (such as cartilage and ligaments) and softens the
bone. The inflammation begins in the small joints in your hands and feet. The
synovial membrane that covers the knee joint begins to swell. The affected
joints tend to worsen over time.
What
Causes arthritis of the knee?
Arthritis in the knee develops when the cartilage thins and wears away and bony bumps known as spurs develop and results in bone-on-bone contact which causes pain, stiffness, and inflammation.
Factors that cause arthritis in the knee:
2. family history or genetic
3. overweight or obesity
4. the result of certain medications
5. Work-related activities
6. lifestyle
7. previous injury of the knee joint
Symptoms and Signs
A knee joint affected by arthritis
may be painful and inflamed. Generally, the symptoms of knee arthritis may get worse
over time. Visible joint deformities and
stiffness that make movement nearly impossible are common. Pain may come and go
on occasion and may worsen after intense physical activity.
Common symptoms of knee arthritis are the following:
· pain and swelling of
the knee tend to worsen over time
· Tenderness above the
knee
· Increase knee pain
as the weather changes
· Cracking sound when
you move
· Warmth and redness
over the joint
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of knee arthritis depends on focused symptoms and medical history and a physical examination of the affected knee. It's necessary to pinpoint where exactly the pain originates to find possible relief.
A doctor may look for possible signs of arthritis, damage to the
soft tissues surrounding the knee bones, and injury by
imaging studies such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. They may also order a uric
acid test for diagnosing gouty arthritis and examine or look for changes in the
knee joint and some forms of arthritis that affect other areas of the body.
When to see a
doctor
If you have severe pain, swelling, or stiffness in one or more
joints, seek your doctor’s advice immediately. Take note not to self-medicate
with any pain pills unless prescribed by your doctor. Seek your doctor’s advice
as soon as you feel persistent pain. If this remains untreated, it can lead to
joint damage.
The first step in treating arthritis in the knee is to get the pain
under control. Proper medication is the most important way to prevent severe
illness and also to help relieve symptoms and improve function. However,
treatment depends upon the stage of pain and damage suffered by a patient.
The doctor will determine which treatments are appropriate for your
situation. The following modalities may also be considered:
●
Weight Loss – This one is the most
important especially for obese patients. This will lessen the weight the joint
has to carry, reducing pressure on the knees.
●
Mobility Aids - Using canes, walkers, or
walking poles will decrease the demand placed on the knee joint.
●
Physical Therapy - Strengthening the
muscles of the knee, to maintain its functional use.
●
Prescribed Medications - Proper
medications may help treat pain.
●
Cortisone Injections – This may also help decrease the pain and reduce inflammation.
●
Acupuncture – This Asian treatment
modality may help to reduce pain and swelling, thereby improving knee movement
and increasing the joint’s range of motion.
●
Knee Replacement Surgery - Most commonly
performed treatment is by removing
the damaged part of the knee and replacing it with metal plastic. The metal component is attached to the end of
the femur using bone cement.
Ways to Slow the Progression of Arthritis in the Knee
Arthritis is a
commonly misunderstood disease. You may do these measures to prevent it from
progressing.
· Exercise
- It keeps your muscles strong and helps you stay flexible. Lack of
exercise leads to the progression of arthritis.
· Diet - Food that is rich in multivitamins and minerals is necessary
for the repair of day-to-day wear and tear of the cartilage and the maintenance
of healthy cartilage.
· Posture - Practice a good position to have good spinal flexibility
and to avoid injury to your backbone.
Learning how to manage
arthritis may feel like a challenge. Understanding the disease and diagnosis
can help control pain. The more
you know about osteoarthritis, the better prepared you will be on managing the
illness and its side effects and keep on track with your prescribed therapy.
