Knee Arthritis

Also called "wear-and-tear" arthritis, osteoarthritis is a very common condition. Usually, people develop it in middle age or older. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness that gradually worsens over time. It can occur in any joint in the body, but it is very common in the knee, causing the cartilage in the joint to slowly degenerate (wear away). If left untreated, the cartilage can wear away completely, causing bone-on-bone rubbing. Pain and joint stiffness make it hard to do everyday things like climbing stairs and walking, and it can also affect productivity at work. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but early treatment is the best way to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.

The other major types of arthritis that affect the knee are rheumatoid arthritis and posttraumatic arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks multiple joints throughout the body, including the knee joint. It is symmetrical, which means it usually affects the same joint on both sides of the body. In rheumatoid arthritis the synovial membrane that covers the knee joint begins to swell, resulting in knee pain and stiffness. Posttraumatic arthritis develops as a result of an injury such as a broken bone.

The most common symptoms of knee arthritis are pain (which usually develops gradually) and inflammation. Other symptoms may include:

• A stiff and swollen joint, making bending and straightening the knee difficult
• Pain and swelling may be worse in the morning, or after sitting or resting.
• Pain that flares up after vigorous activity, such as exercise
• "Locking" or "sticking" of the knee during movement, caused by loose cartilage fragments. The knee might creak, click, snap or make a grinding noise.
• A feeling of weakness or buckling in the knee due to pain
• Increased joint pain with rainy weather

Diagnosis of Knee Arthritis

Your physician will ask you a series of questions and is likely to do a physical exam. The physical exam will including examining any specific areas of concern, especially as they relate to the reason for your visit to the office.

Personal and family medical history: Your doctor will likely ask you a series of questions relating to your personal medical history and your family's medical history.

In addition to the below imaging and laboratory tests, your doctor will perform tests to assess:

• Joint swelling, warmth, or redness
• Tenderness around the knee
• Range of motion
• Instability of the joint
• If there is a grating sensation when you move the joint
• Pain when pressure is placed on the knee
• Gait (walking) issues
• Any signs of injury to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the hip
• Involvement of other joints (an indication of rheumatoid arthritis)

Treatment for Knee Arthritis

There is no cure for knee arthritis but there are a number of treatments that may help relieve the pain and disability it can cause.

Nonsurgical Treatment

As with other arthritic conditions, initial treatment of knee arthritis is nonsurgical. Your doctor may recommend a range of treatment options.

Activity modification: Physicians may prescribe general lifestyle changes to a patient, in order to help relieve the symptoms of their condition and improve their overall physical function and well-being. Depending on the medical condition being treated, activity modification may include: decreasing or increasing one's level of physical activity; added rest; beginning a new activity or exercise program; changing sleep habits; or modifying one's physical environment at home, in their vehicle, or at work.

Some changes in your daily life can protect your knee and slow the progress of arthritis:

• Minimize activities that aggravate the condition, such as climbing stairs.
• Switching from high impact activities (like jogging or tennis) to lower impact activities (like swimming or cycling) will put less stress on your knee.
• Losing weight can reduce stress on the knee joint, resulting in less pain and increased function.

Physical therapy

Sometimes referred to simply as "PT," this is a type of rehabilitative treatment that uses specially designed exercises and equipment to help patients preserve, regain, or improve their physical abilities following injury, disability, disease, or surgery. Physical therapy can include therapeutic exercise, massage, walking aids, and patient education and training.

Walking Aids

Using devices such as a cane, wearing shock-absorbing shoes or inserts, or wearing a brace or knee sleeve can be helpful. A brace assists with stability and function, and may be especially helpful if the arthritis is centered on one side of the knee. There are two types of braces that are often used for knee arthritis: An "unloader" brace shifts weight away from the affected portion of the knee, while a "support" brace helps support the entire knee load.

Other nonsurgical approaches may include:

• Applying heat or ice
• Pain-relieving ointments or creams
• Wearing elastic bandages to provide support to the knee
• Medications such as:
  • Over the counter medication such as acetaminophen
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): A class of medications, including but not limited to aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen, that are used for reducing pain and redness, swelling, and heat (inflammation) in arthritis and other painful inflammatory disorders.
  • Corticosteroids: Cortisol is a naturally-occurring hormone in the body that can affect immune cells. Corticosteroids can be given orally (as a pill) or topically (as a cream, gel, or ointment). Because topical corticosteroids are applied directly to the skin and not circulated throughout the body, patients being treated with them may experience fewer side effects.
• Viscosupplementation involves injecting substances into the joint to improve the quality of the joint fluid.
• Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate: Glucosamine is found naturally in the body. It stimulates the formation and repair of articular cartilage. Over-the-counter supplements come from animal sources. Chondroitin sulfate is another natural substance found in the body. It prevents other body enzymes from degrading the building blocks of joint cartilage.
• Alternative therapies including acupuncture and magnetic pulse therapy

Knee Replacement Surgery

Your doctor may recommend surgery if your knee pain causes disability and is not relieved with nonsurgical treatment. There are many different types of knee surgery available. There are also many different materials that may make up a total joint replacement - including metal and plastic - and the best solution varies from person to person. Your doctor will discuss all of your options with you.

After Knee Replacement Surgery