DR. CORA LIM-MEDICAL INSIDER

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

This is a new topic we are discussing today. It is about Osteoarthritis of the Knee. 

Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects the joints, causing pain and stiffness. It’s by far the most common form of joint disease, and the knee is one of the most commonly affected joints.

A NORMAL JOINT:

A joint is formed by two bones. The end of each bone is covered with cartilage which has a smooth, slippery surface that allows the ends of the bones to move against each other almost without friction. 

When a joint develops osteoarthritis, some of the cartilage covering the ends of the bones gradually roughens and becomes thin and the knee develops swelling and pain.

THE SYMPTOMS:

Some of the symptoms for Osteoarthritis of the Knee are: • Pain, • Stiffness, • A grating or grinding sensation when the joint moves (crepitus), • Bony swelling, • Excess joint fluid (sometimes), • Restricted movement, 

• Joint instability, and • Weakness and thinning of thigh muscle

There’s no cure for osteoarthritis as yet, but there’s a lot that you can do to improve your symptoms. Some of these include the following:

• Lose weight if you’re overweight

• Exercise regularly (both muscle-strengthening and general aerobic exercise)

• Reduce Stress on the Affected Joint

• Break the harder jobs up into chunks and do something more gentle in between

• Use a walking stick/walker

• Use the handrail for support when going up or down stairs

• Don’t keep your knee still in a bent position for too long

• Modify your home, car or workplace to reduce unnecessary strain

• Wear appropriate low-heeled footwear

• shoes with soft, thick soles (joggers) Apply heat or ice packs

• Use painkillers or anti-inflammatory creams, gels and tablets

There are other remedies, too. If you still have pain after trying self-help measures, seek help from a RHEUMATOLOGIST. He/She would examine you and he may advise you to go for an X-ray. (It is not always required). A rheumatologist may recommend the following treatments: Capsaicin cream, Stronger painkillers, Steroid injections into the painful joint, surgery