Understanding Knee Osteoarthritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Relief Options

Understanding Knee Osteoarthritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Relief Options

Introduction

Has it become hard for you to do daily activities, like walking up the stairs or taking a stroll in the park, due to knee pain? This might be a sign of osteoarthritis. If ignored, it can worsen with time and your knees can become painful. Osteoarthritis is a knee joint problem, which affects many elderly people around the globe. Even simple everyday tasks may become challenging. It may also reduce your ability to move around freely. Thus, it reduces the quality of life. In this blog, we will understand the causes, symptoms, and available relief options for osteoarthritis. We will also answer the patients’ commonly asked questions. 

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that happens due to degeneration, i.e. wearing down of cartilage in your body. Cartilage is a smooth tissue that cushions the ends of bones in a joint. Over time, the bones start rubbing against each other. This causes pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis can happen in any joint, but it is the most common in knees, hips, hands, and spine.

If you have osteoarthritis, there may be the following signs:

  • Gradual cartilage degeneration
  • Increased bone friction
  • Formation of bone spurs
  • Reduced joint mobility

Causes of Osteoarthritis in the Knee

Several factors contribute to knee osteoarthritis. Knowing the risk factors will help you get some relief from this problem.

Risk factors of knee joint osteoarthritis

  • Aging: With age, your joints wear down. This increases the risk of osteoarthritis
  • Injury: Past knee injuries, like fractures or ligament tears, can increase your chances of developing osteoarthritis
  • Genetics: A family history of osteoarthritis can make you more prone to it
  • Symptoms of Osteoarthritis in the KneeWhen you are overweight, there is more stress on your knee joints. This can increase the speed of cartilage breakdown

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis in the Knee

There will be some symptoms of knee osteoarthritis - mild discomfort or even severe pain. You might not be able to walk, stand or sit for long. Thus, it affects how you live your life. 

There are some symptoms of knee joint osteoarthritis:

  • Joint Pain: Continuous knee pain, especially after physical activity
  • Stiffness: Trouble moving your knee, particularly after sitting or resting
  • Swelling: Inflammation around the knee joint
  • Reduced Mobility: Having problem in bending or straightening your knee

Relief Options for Osteoarthritis of the Knee Joint

To get relief, you will need osteoarthritis of knee joint treatment. You should also make some changes in your lifestyle. Here are some tips that can help:

Treatment of osteoarthritis of knee joint

  • Physical Therapy: There are exercises that strengthen the muscles around your knees. These make your joints strong as well as improve flexibility.
  • Surgery: If you are experiencing extreme knee pain and it is hard to even move around, this may be a severe case of knee joint osteoarthritis. In such a case, your doctor might suggest medical operations like total knee replacement. In this surgery, the damaged parts of your bones are sharpened and replaced with artificial implants. You will be able to move with ease and there will be no pain.

Lifestyle Changes

  • Maintain a healthy weight: Shedding extra pounds can ease the stress on your knee joints.
  • Exercise: Low-impact activities like swimming and cycling can keep your joints flexible without overloading your knees.

Knee support for osteoarthritis

  • Knee Braces: To give stability to your knee joint and reduce pain, use knee support for osteoarthritis, like knee brace. There are special knee braces that help specifically with osteoarthritis. 
  • Assistive Devices: You can use canes and walkers to help you walk. These work by reducing the pressure from your knees.

Preventing Further Damage due to Osteoarthritis

Surgery is the only cure for osteoarthritis in knee. However, making some lifestyle changes can prevent it from getting worse. Here are a few tips:

Preventive Tips

  • Maintain a Healthy Weight: Reducing your weight will put less stress on your knee joints
  • Regular Exercise: Low-impact exercises will strengthen the muscles around your joints. This will improve knee stability and ability to move.
  • Joint Protection: Avoid activities that put pressure on your knees. When lifting things, keep a proper posture that does not strain your joints.

Conclusion

Knee osteoarthritis can impact your daily life. Understand the causes to get relief. Early diagnosis, medical osteoarthritis treatments and lifestyle changes can stop this problem from worsening. Consult your doctor if home remedies and orthopedic support devices don’t give any relief.

FAQs

Can knee supports help with osteoarthritis pain?

Yes, knee supports for osteoarthritis can provide stability and reduce pain by taking off the pressure on your knee joint. They can reduce the impact of osteoarthritis and improve joint function.

Is there a cure for osteoarthritis in knee?

Currently, there’s no cure for osteoarthritis in the knee. However, osteoarthritis treatments like exercise, knee braces and lifestyle changes can slow the disease’s progression.

How can I prevent further damage from osteoarthritis in the knee?

To prevent further damage from osteoarthritis in the knee, keep a healthy weight, do regular low-impact exercise, and protect your joints by avoiding activities that put excessive strain on them.