ORTHOPEDICS/HIP & KNEE/ PAIN CAUSES
A knee joint Arthritis is one of the most common knee pain reason. Different kinds of Arthritis can affect the knee joint
Therapies may modify depending on the specific case causing the damage.
Osteoarthritis is one of the knee Arthritis frequent. It is characterized by progressive losing to the joint cartilage.
To remind that when the protective cartilage is damaged, the bone is exposed to injory, the knee becomes inflamed, and motion becomes progressively painful.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an immune scheme sickness occurring where the body attacks itself and the joints, cause that can affect the knees as well.
Signs
Knee Arthritis signs tend to increase progressively as the situation worsens, but signs may suddenly worsen with less damage or overuse.
Here are some knee Arthritis signs:
- Pain with motion
- Restricted motion range
- Joint painfulness
- Joint inflammation Swelling
- Knee soreness
- A feeling that the knee may “give out”
- Joint abnormality (such as knock-knees or bow-legs)
Reasons
Knee Arthritis is due to cartilage loss, a soft tissue that acts like a cushion in the knee joint.
There are numerous risk factors and reasons of a knee Arthritis:
- Joints are worn with advanced age.
- Being female (Osteoarthritis is more common and severe with women)
- Obesity: it is simply logic that extra weight adds pressure on the joints and can make joint damage. In contrary, weight loss tends to decrease pain severity related to knee Arthritis.
- Genetic wise: Having parents with Osteoarthritis or inflammatory Arthritis
- Having suffered of a previous knee damage, such as a torn meniscus, crack to the bone around the joints, or a tendon tear
- Previous knee surgery where damaged cartilage was removed
- Having a job that is physically challenging and/or involves recurrent knee stress
- Having another joint disorder that has caused joint damage, such as RA
- Problems with subchondral bone, (the layer of bone beneath the knee cartilage)
Diagnosis
Knee Arthritis cannot be identified by a single test.
Imaging studies are performed, a comprehensive medical history, in addition to a physical examination reach a deduction.
Knee Arthritis cannot also be identified by Lab tests.
Lab Tests can rule out other disorders that could contribute to knee pain, such as inflammatory Arthritis.
Therapy
Therapy for knee Arthritis focus providing pain relief and improving joint strength and mobility.
Therapy works into three groups: Way of life, medicine and surgery.
Way of life
Way of life modifications are numerous and may be helpful to manage knee Arthritis. These include:
Weight loss, Joint protection, Exercise, Physical therapy, Hot, and cold therapy
Medicines
Medicines for treating knee Arthritis are usually composed of Anti-inflammatory, pain relievers, Knee injections and DMARDs that help preserving joint health by blocking inflammation.
Surgery
Surgery is characteristically the therapy last-resort for knee Arthritis. There are different surgery; Some repair and preserve bone while others replace knee joints completely.
Here are some kinds of knee surgery:
Knee Arthroscopy
Knee Arthroscopy is minimally aggressive and involves using an Arthroscope (optical device with a tiny camera) inserted in a joint through a small incision (more incisions are done if needed).
All about Knee Arthroscopy
Knee Osteotomy
A knee Osteotomy involves cutting a part of another bone, then remodeling it to repair the damage in the knee joint.
Knee Switching Surgery
Knee switching surgery is actually the most performed operation in Orthopedic.
With a complete knee switching, the cartilage is entirely removed and a metal or plastic implant is inserted in its place.
With this technique the bones of the knee joint are smooth so they can flex and curve freely without pain.
Knee switching may be partial as well and involve switching of only one part of the knee.