Osteoarthritis of the Knee | Learn Everything at One Place
Are you experiencing extreme knee pain and having difficulties doing daily chores? If yes, this guide is for you to get precise information.
There are no age limitations when it comes to medical conditions without any prior notice. From youngsters to adults, everyone has to deal with osteoarthritis of knee if their health condition is not in good shape. For some individuals, it might be genetic, and for others, knee osteoarthritis can result from infection, severe injury, or obesity.
Furthermore, on this page, we will discuss some crucial details about knee osteoarthritis, whether you want to know the stages, symptoms, and treatment. Here are all the significant answers to your queries about knee osteoarthritis.
Brief Overview of Osteoarthritis of Knee
Osteoarthritis of knee occurs when the cartilage in your joint is damaged, causing the joint bones to rub together. Likewise, this conflict causes extreme pain and swelling in the knee area, which leads to stiffness and immobility. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition resulting from wear and tear over time. It is very typical, and the knee is the most affected joint because it takes a lot of pressure over your lifetime.
This disease is a long-term, developed condition with no significant cure. Numerous medical treatments are available to slow its growth and relieve your symptoms, and lifestyle changes might help. However, it tends to deteriorate over time, which leads to disability. Moreover, your doctor will monitor your arthritis as it grows. When it begins to affect your life, the doctor will suggest that surgery is the only option.
Significant Stages of Osteoarthritis of Knee
While there are no precise final stages of osteoarthritis in your knee, it is a weakening condition that grows predictably. Comprehending how osteoarthritis grows can help you know your symptoms and what to do next. Here we have mentioned the stages from 0 to 4:
1. Stage 1 (Minor)
Stage 1 indicates wear and tear in the cartilage in your knee joint. You probably have not noticed any symptoms or pain in this particular stage.
2. Stage 2 (Mild)
This stage refers to the mild category in which you might start noticing the pain and stiffness in your knee joint, but there is still enough cartilage to manage the bones from rubbing together.
3. Stage 3 (Moderate)
It is considered a moderate stage where your cartilage is significantly lower down. Furthermore, it causes extreme pain, particularly when walking, kneeling, squatting, and performing other activities involving your knee. Additionally, you may face immobility or difficulty moving your knee joint, especially when sitting in the same posture for a long time.
4. Stage 4 (Severe)
Unbearable knee osteoarthritis indicates that the cartilage in your knee joint is at the edge. Cartilage leaves the bone to curve against each other at this stage, as they move. Also, your knee becomes stiff, painful, and immobile. However, you may consider joint replacement surgeries for better results.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis of Knee
Here are some significant osteoarthritis indications of knee that you must know:
- Knee Stiffness
- Swelling
- Puffiness
- Grinding or Cracking noise
- Feels Wobbly
- Knee Lock Up
- Freels Stuck
- Less mobility
What are the Imperative Causes of Osteoarthritis of Knee?
One of the most common causes of osteoarthritis of the knee is growing age. Almost everyone will experience it, whether it’s a minor stage or a severe one. Nevertheless, countless things raise the risk of having arthritis at an earlier age.
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Gender (Women are more likely to face knee osteoarthritis than men)
- Age
- Athletics
- Heredity
If you are experiencing the above situations and feeling severe pain in your knee joint, it might be a sign that you need to visit the best orthopedic and health centre near me.
Some Crucial Risk Factors of Osteoarthritis of Knee
Here are some major pointers you must know, which indicate that you might be more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis. Go through the following pointers to know.
- BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 or more is considered overweight
- Have you had an old knee injury, or have you hurt your knee in any circumstances
- Frequently putting pressure on your knee
- Inherited a tendency to develop knee osteoarthritis
- Twisted joints or bones, such as having “knock knees”
How Do Doctors Diagnose Knee Osteoarthritis?
Your knee doctor will begin by asking numerous questions about your symptoms and physically examining your knee. Here are the pointers that reflect the things they will discuss.
- Swollen, soreness, and colour of your knee,
- If you feel minor or severe pain in a specific area of your knee
- You might have injured your knee
- How do you walk on your knee
- If there is any looseness or an unstable knee joint
Furthermore, they will also follow up with imaging tests, like X-rays, to clarify your knee condition. In some circumstances, they might order a CT Scan or an MRI to examine the tissues in your knee joint more precisely.
Non-Surgical Treatments Of Knee Osteoarthritis
Here we have mentioned some imperative non-surgical treatments for your knee:
- Genicular Nerve Block Injections
- Knee Gel Shots (Viscosupplementation)
- Cortisone (Steroid) Injections
- Doing Physical Therapy
- Sometimes Losing Weight
- Using A Knee Brace
- Using Pain Medications
Surgical Treatments For Osteoarthritis Of Knee
If your knee joints have not recovered from the non-surgical procedures, that doctor will definitely recommend you for knee surgery. Here we have mentioned the surgical osteoarthritis of the knee treatments:
- Cartilage replacement
- Knee bone reshaping (osteotomy)
- Partial knee replacement
- Total knee replacement
What are the Ways to Prevent Osteoarthritis of the Knee?
There is no such thing that you can not prevent your knee osteoarthritis. However, you can decrease the potential risk by reducing stress and strain on your knee joint as much as possible. Moreover, here we have mentioned some major ways to prevent knee osteoarthritis:
- Consider more useful ways to modify how you do it if your job strains your knees.
- Seek soft surfaces rather than rough pathways when walking or running.
- Change your fitness routine with low-impact activities, like cycling or swimming.
- If you are dealing with being overweight, losing only 10% can significantly reduce the risk of osteoarthritis of knee.
It’s time to Wrap Things Up!
We understand how painful knee osteoarthritis can be. However, we hope this page provided you with all the precise details on knee osteoarthritis, from its crucial symptoms to its effective treatments. Furthermore, if you are looking for a top-notch health centre for your joint replacement surgeries, Kush Orthopedic & Health Centre is your perfect companion. Our team of expert and qualified doctors provides advanced medical assistance to fulfill your every medical need.
We know there are numerous health centres in this industry. What makes us different is that we follow a patient-centric approach that prioritizes patients at the top tier. Additionally, we offer competitive pricing so that money can never be the issue regarding quality treatment. Call us today, or book your consultation slot from our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Physiotherapy is one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee. It can help strengthen your leg and knee muscles and enhance your well-being. However, painkillers can help relieve the pain and stiffness, which improves your quality of life.
Low-impact or pressure aerobic exercises, such as swimming, cycling, and walking, are the best exercises for osteoarthritis. Top-notch doctors generally suggest these exercises.
There are four significant stages of knee osteoarthritis, from stage 1 to 4. Therefore, they range from a normal healthy knee to significant cartilage loss and bone injury. Here we have mentioned the stages that you must know:
- Stage 1 – Minor
- Stage 2 – Mild
- Stage 3 – Moderate
- Stage 4 – Severe