What You Need to Know About Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis and affects millions worldwide. It is a degenerative joint disease caused by injury, aging, or genetics. However, it most frequently affects the knees.

Different Causes of Knee Osteoarthritis

• Increasing age: The older you are, the more likely you are to develop knee osteoarthritis.
• Excessive weight: Being overweight increases the pressure on your knees when you stand or walk, which can cause damage to your cartilage over time.
• Injury: A traumatic injury to your knee joint can lead to arthritis by damaging the articular cartilage (the soft tissue covering the ends of bones).
• Disorders that cause inflammation or irritation: Inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or gout can cause inflammation in your joints and result in osteoarthritis over time.

Types of Knee Osteoarthritis

• Primary OA: It is when the damage to the joints occurs without an apparent cause.
• Secondary OA develops after an injury or condition that causes inflammation around the joint, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gouty arthritis.
• Traumatic OA: This type occurs after an injury to the knee that damages its structure and causes ongoing pain and swelling over time despite attempts at treatment for infection or inflammation in surrounding tissues.

Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis

The treatment of knee osteoarthritis is a matter of treating the symptoms and preventing further damage. There are several different treatment options, ranging from physical therapy to surgery. Physical therapy is often recommended as a first-line treatment for knee osteoarthritis. In addition, knee braces can help support the knee and reduce pain and swelling.

Pain medications are used with other treatments, such as physical therapy or steroid injections. Steroid injections have been shown to relieve pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knees by reducing inflammation within those joints. However, these injectables are not advised for long-term use as they can lead to serious side effects. 

Treating knee osteoarthritis can be a complex process, and it can take a lot of trial and error to find the proper treatment for your specific needs. Always seek professional medical advice for an informed medical intervention.