Arthritis In Knee: Also Known As Wear-And-Tear Arthritis

Arthritis in knee, also known as osteoarthritis or wear and tear arthritis, is a very common type of arthritis in the knee and is also known as wear-and-tear arthritis or degenerative joint disease and is characterized by the wearing away of the joint’s cartilage which results in the bare bone being exposed within the joint. Arthritis in knee is found in patients aged 50 and over and is more prevalent in patients having excess weight and if one was to lose weight some of the symptoms would be reduced and there is also a tendency to have arthritis in knee if it runs in the family. There are other contributing factors in developing arthritis in knee and these are trauma to the knee, meniscus tears or damage to ligaments as well as fractures to the bone surrounding or in close proximity of the joints.

Common Symptoms Of Arthritis In Knee

There are certain symptoms common to arthritis in knee and they tend to progress as the condition gets worse, though it may not always be a steady progress with the passage of time. In other words, there may be periods of good health interspersed with bad months when the symptoms change as a result of changes in the weather. Common symptoms of arthritis in knee includes pain with activities, range of motion being limited, knees are stiff, joints get swollen, joints feel tender, joints may give out at any time, and knock-knees or bow legs or other deformities of the joint. The patient with arthritis in knee should be examined and evaluated using a physical examination and through use of X-rays, which may serve as a baseline for further examinations as well as determining the progression of the condition.

Arthritis in knee may be treated with the help of some basic steps that may lead to further dedicated treatment which may even involve getting surgery performed. Each patient has his or her own symptoms and so treatment would vary from case to case and one need to discuss with their doctor about which treatment would be most appropriate for individual cases. There are some common treatments that would help in alleviating arthritis in knee including weight loss, walking aids, activity modification, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, synvisc, joint supplements, knee arthroscopy, knee osteotomy, total knee replacement surgery as well as partial knee replacement surgery.