Overview of Knee Arthritis

Knee arthritis is very common among people above 50 years of age. This condition is more common in women compared to men. According to National Health Policy, Osteoarthritis is the second most common condition after diabetes in India.

The World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that globally 9.6% of men and 18.0% of women aged over 60 years have symptomatic osteoarthritis. 80% of those with osteoarthritis have restrictions in movements, and 25% face extreme difficulty in maintaining regular day-to-day activities. This article gives you an understanding of knee arthritis.

What is Knee Arthritis?

Knee Arthritis is a severe condition where the knee joint becomes stiff, and one experiences difficulty in walking and sitting. And most of the time, there is swelling around the knee joint and extreme pain while doing daily activities. 

The knee joint is typically connected to the three bones thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibea), and kneecap (patella). When the movement gets restricted, it starts impacting the overall health and the mobility of the body. 

What are the types of arthritis that affect the knee joint? 

There are different types of arthritis. But the following are 4 major types of arthritis that commonly affect knee joints are- 

• Osteoarthritis– This is one of the most common arthritis that occurs in people. In this type of arthritis, the cartilage wears off completely, causing friction between the three bones of the knee joint. This friction results in stiffness, restricted movement, and pain in the knee joint, causing trouble walking and doing other regular activities. 
• Rheumatoid Arthritis- This is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when the immune system attacks healthy body cells, causing inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects most of the body joints at once, leading to pain and swelling in the affected areas. 
• Gout– It is one of the complex and common forms of arthritis. Gout emerges suddenly and causes excruciating pain, majorly in the toe joint. This usually occurs when urate crystals start accumulating in the joints resulting in inflammation and swelling in the affected area.  
• Psoriatic Arthritis- Typically, psoriatic arthritis occurs due to genetic reasons or in people with psoriasis. It leads to stiffness in the joints causing pain and swelling. The symptoms usually get worse in due course if not taken prompt treatment or delayed.

What are the stages of knee arthritis?

There are 5 stages of arthritis that are classified depending on their advancement of symptoms- 

• Stage 0– Normal; During this stage, the knees are healthy and do not show any symptoms of knee arthritis. 
• Stage 1– Minor; In this stage, you may have slight wear or tear in the knee joint but would not feel any pain. 
• Stage 2– Mild; In this stage, you may start to feel a little stiffness and pain in the knee joint.
• Stage 3– Moderate; During this stage, the pain’s intensity becomes higher compared to the previous stage. You will feel discomfort in walking, running, climbing stairs, and other movements that put pressure on your knee joint.
• Stage 4– Severe; This is the stage when the cartilage of the knee joint is absolutely damaged. Possibly, you would not be able to move your knee and may need medical assistance and appropriate treatment to restore the normal functioning of the knee joint. 

Also Read- What Is The Difference Between Osteoporosis And Osteoarthritis?

What causes knee arthritis?

The following are a few common causes that can lead to arthritis- 

• Bone anomalies– If you have bones and joints that are crooked, the risk of getting osteoarthritis becomes higher.
• Gout– This is a type of arthritis caused due to inflammation in the knee joint and may lead to osteoarthritis.
• Injuries– At times, a trauma caused by a sudden awkward fall or sports injury can result in knee arthritis. 
• Stress– Putting excessive pressure on your knee joints because of heavy weight-lifting, running, cycling, jogging, and other similar activities can also lead to knee arthritis.
• Age– People of older age are more likely to get affected by arthritis compared to people of younger age. 
• Obesity-People who are obese are more prone to getting arthritis because the over body weight puts excessive pressure on the knee joint resulting in arthritis.

What are the signs and symptoms of knee arthritis?

The following are some signs that may indicate knee arthritis- 

• A frequent snapping sound from the knee joint
• Redness around the knee joint
• Swelling around the knee joint
• Warmth around the knee joint, when touched, compared to other areas of the body. 
• Difficulty in walking, standing, and standing. 
• Extreme pain while climbing stairs. 

Who should you consult for knee arthritis?   

It is always advisable to consult an orthopedist or orthopedic doctor if you are suffering from pain or discomfort in any part of the body. An orthopedist has a specialization in diagnosing and providing the best-suited treatment for knee-related problems and 

How can knee arthritis be diagnosed?

An orthopedist conducts a thorough physical examination to diagnose knee arthritis. During the physical examination, the orthopedic doctor checks the tenderness and swelling around the affected knee joint by putting slight pressure with the fingertips. S/he will ask you to bend the knee joint a little to assess the intensity of the pain. Once the physical examination is done, the orthopedic doctor will recommend a few diagnostic tests to detect any underlying disease. Some of the imaging tests recommended by the orthopedic doctor are- 

• X Rays- To get a clear image of the bones around the affected knee joint.
• MRI- This test is commonly recommended to diagnose the condition of the nearby tissues, ligaments, and tendons attached to the affected knee joint. 

What are the treatments for knee arthritis provided at Pristyn Care?

Pristyn Care leverages modern technology to provide advanced and best-suited treatment for knee arthritis. Our orthopedics doctors are highly experienced and perform minimally invasive techniques to treat knee arthritis in the most effective way possible. Some of the treatments are- 

• Total knee replacement (TKR)- During knee replacement, the orthopedic surgeon replaces the damaged joint completely with the artificial or prosthetic joint. This is often recommended when the bones are severely damaged because of any injury or degenerative bone diseases. 
• Partial Knee Replacement- In most cases, only one of the knee joints gets affected from the inner side because of excessive pressure. Therefore, the surgeon recommends knee replacement for the affected side, which is known as partial knee replacement. 
• Revision or Complex Knee Replacement- Usually, people affected with severe arthritis are advised knee replacement two to three times. In this procedure, the surgeon uses a modified implant in order to provide more stability to the affected knee joint. 
• Kneecap Replacement– This is also known as Patellofemoral arthroplasty. When the underneath surface area of the kneecap is affected because of degenerative diseases, the surgeon recommends replacing the patellofemoral part of the knee joint.

Book an appointment with the best orthopedic surgeon for knee arthritis treatment near you

If you are experiencing excruciating pain in the knee joint or suffering from knee arthritis, get in touch with one of our best orthopedic experts today. You can book your appointment by clicking below in the right corner or filling out the appointment form in the left corner, with all the required details. Our medical coordinator will call you at the earliest to provide all the necessary information about the condition and will book a consultation with an experienced orthopedic doctor near you.