Knee Arthritis

What is knee arthritis, and how is it treated?

What is Arthritis of the Knee?

Knee arthritis refers to inflammation of the knee joint. The primary symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness. Many different types of arthritis can affect the knee. The most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis is more common in adults but can also affect children.

Although there is no cure for arthritis, many treatment options are available to provide pain relief and keep people active. At OrthoNeuro, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons have helped thousands of patients with knee arthritis live active and healthy lives using the latest non-surgical and surgical procedures. Book an appointment at one of our many locations throughout Greater Columbus, Ohio today!

Types of Knee Arthritis

There are over 100 different types of arthritis. The most common to affect the knee are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects the knee. It is a wear-and-tear type of arthritis that develops over time. It is more likely to occur in people over 50 years of age, although some young people get it too.

Osteoarthritis of the knee occurs when the cartilage in the knee joint wears away gradually. As the cartilage becomes worn, the protective space between the bones decreases. This can cause painful bone-on-bone contact and bone spurs.

Osteoarthritis usually progresses slowly, with the pain worsening over time.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system attacks your body tissue, such as cartilage and ligaments, as well as your bone.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints throughout the body may be affected at the same time. Rheumatoid arthritis will also affect the synovial membrane that covers the knee joint, causing swelling. This results in knee pain and stiffness.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Post-traumatic arthritis develops after an injury. If you break a bone and damage the joint surface, this form of arthritis can develop some years after the injury. You may also develop this type of arthritis after a meniscal tear or ligament injury. The resulting instability and additional wear on the knee joint can lead to this type of arthritis.

Symptoms of Knee Arthritis

Arthritis in the knee will generally cause pain and swelling. The way these symptoms manifest can indicate whether it is arthritis or another knee condition. Symptoms include the following:

You may find it difficult to bend and straighten the knee because of joint swelling.
Pain and swelling that is worse after a period of rest or inactivity.
Pain after strenuous activity.
Joint movement may be disrupted by loose fragments of joint cartilage and other tissue. You may experience knee locking or sticking. You may also hear creaking, clicking, snapping, or grinding noises (crepitus).
Your knee may feel like buckling because of the arthritis pain.
You may also experience increased joint pain with changes in the weather.

Risk Factors

Various factors may put you at greater risk of developing arthritis. Some risk factors you may be able to change, whereas others you can’t. Risk factors include:

Being overweight or obese
Knee injuries or overuse
Smoking can increase the chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis
Getting older increases the chances of osteoarthritis developing
Women are more likely to get osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Certain genes could increase the chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

How is Knee Arthritis Diagnosed?

Your doctor may use the following methods to diagnose knee arthritis:

Discuss your symptoms and medical history
Physical examination
X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure joint space
Blood tests to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis

Treatment Options for Arthritis of the Knee

The damage caused by arthritis cannot be reversed, but many treatment options can help to reduce the pain and swelling of an arthritic knee.

At OrthoNeuro, depending upon the severity, knee arthritis can be effectively treated using non-surgical treatment options. Our specialists can create treatment plans based on your lifestyle and goals.

These treatment plans may consist of any combination of the following non-surgical treatment options:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
Physical therapy
Bracing
Injections

The board-certified joint replacement specialists at OrthoNeuro are experts at performing partial and total knee replacements. A partial knee replacement may be recommended when one side of the knee joint is affected. The part of the knee affected will be replaced with a prosthesis.

Recovery and Outlook

After knee surgery, you will need a period of rest and recovery. The length of time will depend on the type of surgery that you received. Your recovery period will likely include physical therapy to help strengthen your knee and restore range of motion. Knee surgery will usually relieve pain and make it possible to perform daily activities more easily.

Make an Appointment with an OrthoNeuro Knee Specialist Today!

If you have been suffering from symptoms of knee arthritis, schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified orthopedic surgeons at one of our multiple locations throughout Greater Columbus. We will evaluate your unique lifestyle and goals to determine which type of treatment is best for you. Contact us today!

Medically reviewed by Scott A. Smith, MD

Sources

Knee Specialists

IF YOU HAVE A SEVERE KNEE INJURY OR CHRONIC KNEE PAIN THAT REDUCES YOUR MOBILITY OR QUALITY OF LIFE, CONTACT ORTHONEURO TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION. OUR EXPERT ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS ARE ON HAND TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT YOUR KNEE PROBLEM.