Arthritis is a common joint condition in which tenderness and stiffness of the joint take place. It is of two types: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Well, most people suffer from osteoarthritis and experience knee pain. Some people still have no clue about why osteoarthritis causes knee pain. If you also have the same question, you are on the right page. Let’s discuss this condition in detail so that you can easily understand the whole process and take measures to resolve the problem accordingly.
Osteoarthritis is a Joint Inflammation!
This is a condition that occurs when flexible tissue right at the end of the bone wears down. It is the most common form of arthritis, and people worldwide are suffering from it. It can be responsible for damaging any joint, but most people experience the same in their knees, hands, hips, and spine.
If osteoarthritis takes place in the knee, it leads to constant knee pain. It is a chronic disease, and people having encounters with it face difficulty in engaging in their regular activities. In most cases, people are not able to sleep peacefully, and the only option they have is to take some medication that puts them to sleep.
With time, the condition gets worse and even the over-the-counter pain medications do not help people to get relief for a while. If the same state happens again, the only treatment left is to get the surgery done.
Also, do understand that there are 3 stages of osteoarthritis and that it progresses with time. Some people suffer from stage 1 and, fortunately, with proper measures they can stop the progression. But people who reach stage 3 face major difficulty in managing things out seamlessly.
Stages of Knee Osteoarthritis:
Knee osteoarthritis is further divided into three stages:
Mild Osteoarthritis
Mild osteoarthritis is the primary stage, and a person starts experiencing discomfort immediately. Initially, they were not even able to conclude that it was due to osteoarthritis. They are unable to obtain diagnostic techniques such as x-rays because the obvious changes are not visible in the same.
But the discomfort is something that lets them think about the condition and fix an appointment with the best doctor around.
Moderate Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition where the changes are noticeable and even the X-rat report says so. Initially, a person starts facing pain and that pain lasts for a long time. In such cases, the medication they are taking may or may not help them.
Also, when they engage in moderate-intensity exercise, they experience the pain and drop the exercise in between only.
However, people suffering from moderate osteoarthritis of the knee experience pain throughout the year and rely on medication to relieve the condition. Do know so that it is not that intense that they cannot engage in their regular activities.
Severe osteoarthritis
Severe osteoarthritis is the condition when a person experiences long-term knee pain. There is no medication or therapy that can help them relieve the symptoms. They may get some relief, but that is only temporary.
People with severe conditions experience pain even when they engage in mild exercise. Also, they had no option left instead of bearing the same and it lasted for longer durations as well.
why osteoarthritis causes knee pain?
Some people still face difficulty in understanding the relationship between osteoarthritis and knee pain. I understand that it affects the joint and results in wear and tear of the cartilage covering the bones of the knees. The knees have articular cartilage and it is soft and slippery.
It is responsible for protecting and cushioning the ends of the knee bones. But due to damage, the ability to move normally gets weakened and flexibility has a major impact as well.
It starts as an inflammatory process and, with time, episodes of chronic pain trigger the same. In earlier stages, if a person has not adopted the treatment, they have to bear it till the end of their lifetime. To get rid of it permanently, there is a requirement to go for knee replacement surgery as well.
Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis
Some symptoms are there, helping you to conclude that you are suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee. Primarily, there is inflammation of the joint, contributing to the same. But majorly, the symptoms indicating it are as follows:
- You are facing constant pain and getting up in the morning peacefully is not your thing anymore.
- Stiffness in the joint takes place, contributing to inactivity.
- You are facing constant pain after bending your knees, even after standing. You are not able to get rid of it.
- The pain is getting worse with time, and no medication is helping you out.
Early diagnosis in the case of knee osteoarthritis
In the case of knee osteoarthritis, it is important to go for an early diagnosis because with time, the condition will get worse, and recovering from the same seems to be difficult.
When you approach the doctor for arthritis treatment, he will suggest you go for an x-ray to confirm the condition. After confirming the condition, he will help you with all the changes you need to make in your schedule to get rid of it.
However, after determining the stage of osteoarthritis, the doctor suggests the below-mentioned things:
- The doctor suggests you maintain a proper lifestyle along with low-intensity physical activities and a healthy diet.
- Physiotherapy does wonders for osteoarthritis patients.
- A person needs to monitor their weight and lose it if they are in the category of obese people.
- Doctors recommend the patient go for a joint transplant or arthroscopy.
Henceforth, it is quite obvious to conclude that knee osteoarthritis interferes with your regular lifestyle and, if you have not paid attention, lets you feel restricted as well.
Well, if you are suffering from knee pain and want to know whether it is due to osteoarthritis or any other condition, you can simply book an appointment with any specialist around. For all the residents of Jaipur, there is good news that they can visit the “Partani Clinic”.
You might have heard about it. Here you can fix an appointment with Dr. Arun Partani and discuss the condition you are going through. He is among the best orthopedic doctor in Jaipur, with years of experience in treating patients with osteoarthritis. Discuss the condition you are going through and adapt to the treatment he is suggesting.
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Most Asked Questions
Q. 1 Is there a difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis?
Ans: Osteoarthritis is a condition that takes place due to the wearing down of the cartilage in the joint, whereas arthritis cannot be caused by normal wear and tear of bones.
Q. 2 Can osteoarthritis be cured?
Ans: There is no permanent solution to osteoarthritis. But by adapting to possible measures, one can stop its progression. Some treatments are helpful in relieving the symptoms.
Q. 3 Can osteoarthritis cause disability?
Ans: This is a bitter truth, but you have to understand that if you have not paid attention to the condition, it can lead to disability as well. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment are very important in the case of osteoarthritis.
Q. 4 When does osteoarthritis hit a person hard in a day?
Ans: At the end of the day, the condition gets worse with people suffering from osteoarthritis.
Q. 5 Can I perform exercises to relieve osteoarthritis symptoms?
Ans: Yes, mild exercises are recommended for patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Rest, you can ask the physiotherapist about the post physiotherapy and rehabilitation exercises you can perform to relieve the symptoms.