Arthritis is a serious and painful disease that gets worse over time. Arthritis in the knee is even more concerning, as it affects mobility. If not addressed timely, it can limit you to the wheelchair or bed.
The best thing is that there are many treatment options for early-stage arthritis, like lifestyle changes, physical therapy, acupuncture, and medications. Even for advanced-stage or severe arthritis, there is a gold standard treatment, i.e., minimally invasive knee replacement.
So, don’t worry about knee arthritis; consult an experienced and trusted orthopaedician and follow the treatment regimen.
What is knee arthritis?
The knees are the biggest joints of the body that help you stand, walk, sit, and maintain balance. They are synovial joints, which means they have the most freedom to move. They connect your thigh (femoral) bone to the shin (tibia) bone.
A slippery cartilage covers the ends of both bones. This cartilage works as a cushion and prevents friction between these two bones during movement.
With age, this cartilage starts to wear down. This can also happen due to an injury. As the cartilage wears down, the femoral bone directly grinds on the tibia bone. This causes friction, which results in pain and discomfort. As damage increases, the pain becomes so intense that you can have difficulty doing your daily errands.
Arthritis has two primary types. One is osteoarthritis, in which ageing or injury damages the cartilage in the knee, causing friction and pain. The other is rheumatoid arthritis, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the joint capsule.
A joint capsule is a connective tissue that envelops the joint cavity of the knees. This eventually destroys the cartilage, resulting in pain and discomfort.
Management and treatment
Though there is no cure for knee arthritis, treatment can ease your symptoms and improve your quality of life. The treatment can be multipronged, including lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery.
Lifestyle changes
Exercise is the key to unlocking your bone strength. Consider low-impact exercises to manage your weight. Wearable devices like knee braces or shoe inserts are impactful. Physical therapy can also take stress off the joints and preserve their health. Sometimes, acupuncture can also relieve pain.
Medications
Medicines like NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), COX-2 inhibitors, topical pain relievers, steroid injections, acetaminophen, therapeutic injections, glucosamine & chondroitin supplements, and DMARDs (Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) can suppress inflammation and ease pain. But don’t take any medicine without a prescription.
Most people can manage their arthritis pain for years with lifestyle changes and medicines. However, those with severe arthritis may require surgery.
Minimally invasive knee replacement
Knee replacement is a highly safe and effective treatment for severe knee arthritis. During surgery, the damaged bone and cartilage are replaced with an artificial implant that mimics the natural one.
As technology has improved, the recovery and outcomes have also improved. You can expect to walk with the support of a walker on the same day of surgery and complete recovery within a few weeks.
Takeaway!
Knee arthritis is painful and requires a doctor’s intervention. Depending on your condition, the doctor will decide on the best treatment for you. For more information or treatment, book an appointment now with our expert team of orthopaedician and joint replacement experts.