Over 50 million people report to have been diagnosed with it. It causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints and is sourced from the root problem of inflammation.
As one of the most common causes of lost time at work, this condition impacts a patient’s everyday activities, making simple movements, such as walking, squatting and climbing stairs very painful. It’s no wonder it’s one of the ten most disabling diseases in developing countries. And the disappointing news is that there is no known cure.
Based on the clues above, you may have already discovered that this article is all about knee arthritis symptoms, causes and treatments. In simple terms, arthritis is inflammation and it can be painful and debilitating in any of the body’s joints. However, in weight bearing joints, such as the knees, arthritis can be particularly disruptive to a normal, healthy lifestyle.
Discovering Knee Arthritis Symptoms
If you are experiencing pain, stiffness or swelling in one or both of your knees, you may be wondering whether the cause is arthritis. Whether you are just looking for more information about the symptoms or you’re curious how a physician would diagnose this disease, you’ll find a list of helpful indicators below:
Pain increases following periods of more intense activity
The knee “locks” or “catches” unexpectedly and disrupts motion
Bending and straightening the knee becomes challenging due to swelling and stiffness
Rainy weather can cause pain levels to increase
Knee joint may be warm or red to the touch
Patient may default to walking with a limp due to pain increasing when weight is put on the joint
Joint instability may lead to the knees giving out
Knee arthritis symptoms that come on slowly and gradually over time are probably the result of osteoarthritis, which is a condition also known as “wear and tear arthritis” or degenerative joint disease. When the protective cartilage in the knee joint breaks down, it exposes bone and eventually causes bone-on-bone interaction in the joint. The associated pain can also be accompanied by a grating noise and/or feeling in the joint, which is called crepitus.
When everyday activities become painful and a patient begins to suffer from a lack of mobility due to arthritis in the knees, steps should be taken to relieve symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for arthritis and each person only gets one set of natural cartilage. However, a variety of treatments and interventions are available to help.
If you’re currently experiencing knee arthritis symptoms and would like to explore your treatment options, please call Rothman Institute at 1-800-32-9999.