Learn all you can about your condition and how to manage it, especially about how lifestyle changes can affect your symptoms. Exercising and losing weight if you’re overweight are important ways to lessen the joint pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected joints. One of the most common areas where osteoarthritis develops is in the knees, which can significantly impact a person’s mobility and quality of life.
Early intervention is the best way to stop joint damage from getting worse — and more painful — over time. In a knee osteotomy, either the tibia (shinbone) or femur (thighbone) is cut and then reshaped to relieve pressure on the knee joint. Knee osteotomy is used when you have early-stage osteoarthritis that has damaged just one side of the knee joint. By shifting your weight off the damaged side of the joint, an osteotomy can relieve pain and significantly improve function in your arthritic knee. Visit a healthcare provider as soon as you notice any symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Treatment Options
It’s no surprise that arthritis pain has a negative effect on your mood. If everyday activities make you hurt, you’re bound to feel discouraged. But when these normal feelings escalate to create a constant refrain of fearful, hopeless thoughts, your pain can actually get worse and harder to manage. There is no cure for arthritis but there are a number of treatments that may help relieve the pain and disability it can cause.
Fortunately, there are several ways to manage the symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knees and improve overall joint health. Some of the most effective treatment options include:
- Medications: Over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can help reduce pain and inflammation in the knees.
- Physical Therapy: A physical therapist can create a customized exercise program to strengthen the muscles around the knees and improve flexibility and range of motion.
- Injections: Corticosteroid injections or hyaluronic acid injections can provide temporary relief from knee pain and inflammation.
In some cases, surgery may be required if all other treatment options have been tried. An x-ray of the knee is sometimes used to help diagnosis. You may sometimes need to have a further examination to rule out other possible health conditions. They’ll initially ask you questions about your knee issue and then carry out a physical examination. This will include checking your range of movement and strength.
If you’re overweight or obese, try to lose weight by doing more physical activity and eating a healthier diet. It’s important to follow this plan because there’s a risk that doing too much exercise too quickly, or doing the wrong sort of exercise, may damage your joints. However, regular exercise that keeps you active, builds up muscle and strengthens the joints usually helps to improve symptoms. They can help reduce the pain in a knee affected by osteoarthritis, increasing mobility and allowing more activity.
FAQs
Can osteoarthritis be cured?
Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that cannot be cured, but its symptoms can be managed effectively with the right treatment plan.
Is surgery necessary for osteoarthritis in knees?
Surgery is usually considered as a last resort for severe cases of osteoarthritis in the knees when other conservative treatments have failed to provide relief.
Overall, finding relief for osteoarthritis in the knees involves a combination of medication, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, and possibly surgical intervention. By working closely with healthcare professionals, individuals can develop a comprehensive treatment plan that suits their specific needs and helps them manage their symptoms effectively. Remember, early diagnosis and intervention are key to slowing down the progression of osteoarthritis and maintaining joint function for as long as possible.
