Knee Osteoarthritis

Those with knee osteoarthritis often experience symptoms that gradually get worse with time. Others may deal with sudden painful “flare-ups.” Symptoms include:

• Pain and stiffness in the knee—pain can range from mild to severe and often comes and goes.
• Difficulty bending or straightening the knee.
• Knee swelling or pain in the morning or after long periods of rest.
• Feeling or hearing a grating sensation as you use your knee joint. This includes cracking or popping sounds.
• Weakness in the knee leading to knee locking or buckling. It may also feel like your knee will give out when walking.
• As knee OA progresses, you may notice changes in your knee structure. This can include sunken areas or knees that start to point inward or outward.

Diagnosing Your Knee Osteoarthritis

If you suspect osteoarthritis is causing your knee issues, then you’ll want to consult with a doctor or orthopedic specialist. Unfortunately, no single test can detect knee OA. In fact, doctors must gather information from several sources in order to diagnose this condition. These include:

• Patient Symptoms: Doctors can effectively diagnose knee OA by getting to know you. They will discuss your symptoms, medical and family history, and any activities that may contribute to your knee problems. This information is crucial to making an accurate diagnosis. If your doctor doesn’t take the time to talk to you about your knee issues, then you may want to consider finding a new medical provider.
• Physical Exam: After discussing your knee issues, your doctor will complete a physical examination. This includes checking out the knee and leg for stiffness, muscle weakness, decreased range of motion, and swelling.
• Diagnostic Imaging: X-rays and MRIs give your doctor a better look at your knee joint. These tests help the doctor to visualize decreased joint space, bone spurs, and damage to the soft tissues.
• Lab Testing: Blood draws or fluid analysis from the knee joint won’t determine OA. It can, however, rule out other conditions like an infection or gout.

If you suffer from knee osteoarthritis, then there are both conservative and surgical options to relieve pain and restore functioning to the knee. In most cases, doctors begin with conservative treatments including:

• Lifestyle Modifications: Your daily routine can be contributing to your osteoarthritis pain. By limiting activities that aggravate the knee joint, you may be able to manage symptoms more effectively and even slow down the progression of OA. For example, instead of jogging, your doctor may suggest swimming or cycling for exercise.
• Weight Loss: Excess weight puts more stress on the knee joint. A balanced diet and low-impact exercises may allow you to shed some extra pounds, alleviating your knee issues.
• Using a Knee Brace: Some orthopedic products can stabilize the knee joint and reduce unnecessary pressure. Elastic knee braces are a great way to give the knee support as you complete your daily activities.
• Physical Therapy: Keeping your leg muscles and soft tissues strong and flexible may reduce the effects of OA. A physical therapist can manually manipulate the area or provide an exercise routine that restores function and range of motion to the knee.

Medications for Knee Osteoarthritis

Medications can also benefit those with knee osteoarthritis. Be warned, however: some medications may be habit-forming or come with adverse side effects. Talk to your doctor about the best OTC or prescription options for you. Some medications that are known to be effective for knee OA include:

• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Prescribed and over-the-counter medications like Advil, Aleve, and Celebrex may allow you to manage pain and reduce inflammation to the knee joint. These medications can include pills as well as topical creams.
• Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate: These substances occur naturally in the body’s cartilage. Emerging studies suggest that taking supplements containing these substances can be beneficial.
• Steroid Injections: Some find that medications directly injected into the knee, such as hyaluronic acid or corticosteroids, can alleviate severe pain. By focusing solely on the knee joint, these medications help to reduce swelling and inflammation. In addition, hyaluronic acid provides lubrication to the joint similar to that of synovial fluid.

Surgical Options for Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee surgery is often considered a last resort when conservative treatments aren’t effective. However, surgery can provide considerable pain relief, as well as stabilize the joint to prevent further damage. An orthopedic surgeon may suggest some of the following procedures:

• Knee Arthroscopy: Using a small camera and surgical tools, this minimally invasive procedure removes bone spurs and loose cartilage to prevent further joint deterioration.
• Osteotomy: The surgeon removes parts of the bone to improve alignment and decrease stress on the knee joint.
• Knee Replacement: This surgery can involve a partial or total knee replacement in which the surgeon replaces damaged cartilage using materials such as ceramic, plastic, or titanium.

Ready to Get Help for Your Knee Osteoarthritis?

Dealing with knee pain can greatly disrupt almost every aspect of your life. Even simple activities like getting up from a chair can become an incredibly painful experience. Are you ready to regain control of your life?

NJ Spine & Orthopedic specializes in conservative and minimally invasive treatments for knee osteoarthritis and other orthopedic conditions. Using the latest treatments and technology, we help you get back to the things that you love doing as quickly as possible.

Why continue to suffer? Our experienced doctors at NJ Spine & Orthopedic can accurately assess your condition and suggest the most appropriate treatments for you. Contact us today at (855) 586-2615 to schedule a consultation!