|
|
Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Read about
Osteoarthritis of the Knee presented in simple easy to understand language |
|
|
|
Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease of
joints progressive in nature and characterized by pain, stiffness, and limited
range of motion. It usually begins as a result of the ageing process, i.e. wear
and tear of the joints during the later part of one’s life. Among over 100
different types of arthritic conditions, osteoarthritis is the most common form
of joint disease. In this disease, the normal smooth surfaces of cartilage
covering the bone degenerate, become rough and reduce in thickness.
The space between the bones filled by the synovial fluid becomes narrow. Bony
outgrowths or spurs called osteophytes form on the edges of the joint surface.
Sometimes pieces of osteophytes break off and float in the synovial fluid. The
joints become stiff and painful. It is most commonly seen in the weight –
bearing joint in the elderly, more so in the obese. It is uncommon for
osteoarthritis to affect jaw, shoulder, elbows, wrists or ankles unless there is
unusual stress or injury to such joints. Osteoarthritis in the knee can be a
painful problem.
Causes
No precise cause of the disease is known. However, it is caused primarily by
wear and tear to the joints. Secondary causes include diabetes, sustained
injuries, hyper parathyroidism, obesity, pre-existing joint diseases, hormone
disorders and congenital abnormalities.
Risk Factors
• Age over 50
• Obesity
• Injury to a joint
• Prolonged occupational or sports stress
|
|
|
|
Signs and
Symptoms
Osteoarthritis of Hand
• Fingers become painful and stiff
• Heberden’s nodes in the small joints at the end of the fingers.
• Bouchard’s node occurs at the middle joint of the fingers.
Osteoarthritis of Knees
• Knees become stiff, swollen and painful.
• Difficulty in walking and climbing.
• Pain is felt when sitting in a chair or standing from it.
Osteoarthritis of Hips
• Feeling of pain in the region of hips or groin.
• Pain in the inner thigh or buttocks.
• Difficulty in bending and moving.
Osteoarthritis of Spine
• Pain and stiffness in the neck and lower back region.
• Feeling of weakness or numbness in the arms or legs.
How to Manage the Pain Caused by
Osteoarthritis ?
Medicines and physical therapy will help you to manage the pain caused
by osteoarthritis. You can use pain relieving creams or sprays. You
can also take some oral medicines such as acetaminophen to relieve
pain. Physical therapy is an exercise program that helps you to regain
movement and flexibility of your knee while also trying to relieve
pain. These exercises will also strengthen your muscles around your
knee for more stability and balance. If oral medicine and the physical
therapy do not help you to relive the knee pain then you can use the
injection called anesthetic directly into the affecting area of the
knee. If this does not prove to be an effective then you can go for
surgery or hyaluronic acid injections.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Hyaluronic acid is present in your joints in the form of fluid. In
peoples suffering from osteoarthritis this hyaluronic acid gets
thinner. So, when this happens there will not be enough hyaluronic
acid to protect the joint. Injecting this hyaluronic acid directly
into your knee will protect the joints. This greatly helps in the
relief of the pain than the oral medicines. But this is a very
expensive injection. |
|
