Osteoarthritis Of Knee
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It is a condition in which the naturally occurring cushioning (synovial cartilage) that is present between the joints, wears away. Due to this condition, the bones of the joints tend to rub more closely against one another, and this rubbing results in knee pain, swelling, and sometimes it may also lead to the formation of bone spurs. Osteoarthritis is a condition that is usually found in individuals above the age of 45 years, but in certain cases, it may also be found in younger individuals.
Some of the common causes of osteoarthritis are given below: –
Age is one of the main causes of this condition, with aging, there is wear and tear of the synovial cartilage within the knee joint. This wear and tear will depend on your lifestyle and genetics.
Obese people are at increased risk for osteoarthritis. Excess body weight puts a strain on the knee joint and aggravates wear and tear of the cartilage.
Genetic factors do play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. If you have a family history of osteoarthritis, you are at a higher risk of developing it. Occupations that put excess stress on knee joints like sports, weight lifting cause premature damage to knee cartilage.
This results in early-onset of knee osteoarthritis. Women above 50-55 years of age are more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee. This is mostly related to menopause and associate hormone changes in the body.
The treatment plan of osteoarthritis is to relieve pain and regain mobility. So, here are some of the treatment options for this condition: –
- The first treatment option is through pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc. which will help you to provide relief and ease your pain. These drugs reduce the swelling in the joint and also reduce pain.
- Intraarticular injections of corticosteroids are required in some cases. This is especially required if there is excess inflammation and swelling in the knee joint.
- Injection of Viscosupplementation known as hyaluronic acid is extremely helpful to reduce pain. Viscosupplementation are artificial synovial fluid and help to lubricate the joint.
- Physiotherapy is a necessary part of treatment in knee osteoarthritis. It helps to strengthen your knee muscles and increase flexibility in your knee
- Ergonomic changes in your lifestyle are Important to decrease stress on the knee joints. You should avoid squatting, sitting on the floor, use of Indian toilets.
- Advanced treatment options like Radiofrequency neurotomy of Genicular nerves help in severe osteoarthritis. In this treatment, nerves carrying pain signals from the knees are stunned using electric current.
The best results are obtained with multidisciplinary treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
