Common Cause of Knee Pain - Osteoarthritis

Many of the conditions that cause knee pain are more common in younger people, but there is one painful condition of the knee that is more frequent in older patients, especially those who are over 40. This condition is known as osteoarthritis, and it is actually the most common form of arthritis, with millions of people all over the world suffering from it in varying degrees, in their knees as well as other joints in their bodies. Although it is more common in adults over 40, knee osteoarthritis can affect pretty much anyone at any age.

What Causes Knee Osteoarthritis?

There is a smooth articular cartilage that coats the bones that make up the knee joints, the thigh bone, the shin bone and the kneecap. When a patient develops osteoarthritis, this coating begins to get brittle and loses elasticity, and it is much easier for patients to sustain injuries, which will in turn cause even more damage to the cartilage. The person with osteoarthritis will end up with irritations caused by the bones no longer rubbing smoothly across the cartilage during movement, and some patients even end up with bone spurs. There are often mineral deposits in the cartilage of those with osteoarthritis, and the knee fluids thin and do not protect the knee as they should.

Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis

Often, symptoms of knee osteoarthritis go unnoticed for quite some time, because it is a gradual condition. One of the first symptoms of the condition is stiffness in the knee. Patients will also notice that their range of motion becomes more and more limited and that they experience pain, especially when going up or down stairs. Weakness, and swelling are also common symptoms. Because there are many different symptoms, in order to correctly diagnose knee osteoarthritis, there will be certain tests performed, including x-rays and MRIs. The patient's medical history will also be studied. Some factors that increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis include obesity, aging, injury and repetitive activities that involve impact to the joints.

Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

At one time, it was thought that those with knee osteoarthritis should limit their activity, so as not to put any added stress on the knee, and to keep the irritation from building up. Today, we know differently. It is actually beneficial to maintain regular movement for knee pain relief, because a lack of it will cause the joints to stiffen, making movement more and more difficult and painful. It is important that those with knee osteoarthritis remain active, and there a numerous exercises that your physician or physiotherapist can recommend to help this condition.

Other methods used to treat osteoarthritis include heat and cold. Heat is used to help reduce pain, while the cold treatments are used to ease swelling. Acupuncture has also been known to be a successful treatment, and knee braces are often worn by those with knee osteoarthritis. Weight loss is often recommended, and some patients benefit from over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications and topical creams.

Once osteoarthritis has been correctly diagnosed, it can easily be treated, and the patient can live a relatively pain-free life, doing their normal activities. If you think you have osteoarthritis, in the knee or any other joint, see your physician, and find out what you can do to treat it now.