Osteoarthritis in Knees

Osteoarthritis: The basics

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis worldwide, affecting more than 20 million people in the United States. The painful joint degeneration is most common in older adults and often affects large joints such as the knee, hip, neck and lower back.

In healthy joints, your cartilage provides cushioning that acts as a shock absorber and allows bones to move smoothly over each other. If you have osteoarthritis, that cartilage breaks down over time. This can lead to bone spurs and cause pain, swelling and stiffness that make it difficult for you to move without pain. 

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

• Joint pain – A deep, aching pain that can intensify when moving around and is better when the joint is rested; in severe cases the pain is constant 
• Stiffness – especially in the morning or when resuming activity after rest
• Joint swelling
• Joints that are warm to the touch 
• Limited range of motion 
• Muscle weakness – often caused by favoring the painful joint 
• Growth of bony knobs near joints 
  
  

Risk Factors of Osteoarthritis 

• Age – up to 85% of patients with osteoarthritis are older than 65
• Family history 
• Gender – osteoarthritis affects more women than men 
• Being overweight 
• Injury to the joint 
• History of inflammatory joint disease 
• Metabolic or hormonal disorders 
• Bone and joint disorders from birth 
• Repetitive stressful joint use, such as with athletics or construction work 
• Deposits of uric acid crystals in joints 

Diagnosis of osteoarthritis 

There is no specific test to diagnose osteoarthritis; rather, most doctors use a combination of methods to diagnose the disease and rule out other causes (such as rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease).

Your doctor will perform a physical exam on your knee, testing your range of motion, grating of the joint with motion, joint swelling and tenderness. You may also have an X-ray of the affected knee joint to look for loss of the joint space or wearing down of the ends of the bone. 

Preventive Care 

The best way to reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis is by:

• Exercising 
• Losing extra weight to relieve pressure on your knee joints 
• Maintaining a healthy weight 
• Protecting an injured knee joint from further damage 
• Avoiding repetitive motions 

Treatment 

There are a variety of ways to treat osteoarthritis, from physical activity to nutrition to medications. The goal of treatment is to relieve your pain and improve your knee joint’s range of motion so you can regain movement. 

Medications 

Non-prescription options include: 

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Aspirin, Advil, Aleve and Motrin
  
  

Your doctor will discuss options for prescription medications with you during your appointment. 

Surgery and Other Procedures

Each case of osteoarthritis may vary in both symptoms and severity. In debilitating cases, surgery is often needed to replace or repair damaged joints. Your orthopaedic surgeon will evaluate your knee carefully and recommend the best surgical treatment path, which could include arthroscopic surgery or a partial or total knee replacement. 

Nutrition and Getting Active

Eating a healthy balanced diet can help reduce inflammation in your body. It can also help maintain your proper weight or help you lose additional pounds. Try to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day and exercise for 30 minutes five days a week to keep your joints active and to prevent stiffness from occurring.

Physical Therapy 

Physical therapy can improve your muscle strength and joint mobility. Your physical therapist can sometimes help to prolong or even avoid the need for a joint replacement surgery. Additional benefits of physical therapy include less stiffness, reduced pain and improved functional and walking ability.

Contact Us 

If you are struggling with osteoarthritis and knee pain, schedule an appointment with our Sports Medicine physicians for a treatment plan tailored to you. Call (859) 212-5600 to make an appointment.

If surgery is necessary, our physicians can provide a referral to one of our affiliated orthopaedic surgeons. For more information on surgical options, please contact us at askortho@stelizabeth.com.