The most common cause of knee pain is knee osteoarthritis. The pain may come and go, become worse over time, or come accompanied by other symptoms, including knee stiffness. The condition develops due to degeneration of the cartilage. While the cartilage does not contain any nerves, damage or missing cartilage in the knee causes friction between bones and bone tissue changes, leading to pain. For example, damaged cartilage can lead to various bone changes such as:
Bone Spurs
Bone spurs, also known as osteophytes, are abnormal bony growth at the knee joints with damaged cartilage. The joint bones produce the bone spurs to compensate for missing or deteriorated cartilage. Bone spurs have an irregular shape that creates more friction in the knee joint, causing discomfort and pain.
Subchondral Bone Sclerosis
Due to undistributed weight loads, the tibia and femur surfaces, which lie beneath the cartilage, can change in composition, making it harden.
Cysts And Bone Marrow Lesions
Missing or deteriorated knee cartilage can also lead to cysts development and bone marrow lesions. These cysts and lesions lead to knee discomfort and pain.
For most people, the knee osteoarthritis symptoms come and go, worsening over time. While it is easy to dismiss early knee OA signs and symptoms, the symptoms become worse if left untreated, causing mobility issues. Some of the common OA signs and symptoms include:
Although Knee OA affects as many as 45 percent of people in their lifetime, the exact cause is unknown. However, medical practitioners have discovered several risks that increase the chances of developing knee osteoarthritis. These include:
The diagnosis process for knee osteoarthritis starts with a thorough physical examination by a qualified doctor. Your physician will also collect your medical history and ask you about any symptoms you may be experiencing. Ensure that you explain your symptoms in detail and point out what makes the pain better or well. It is also essential to find out if other members of your family have knee arthritis.
Besides collecting the information and performing a physical examination, your doctor may also request additional testing such as x-rays and MRI scans. The X-ray imaging shows the extent of the cartilage damage and any presence of bone spurs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are more precise and detailed and help the doctor see the bones, cartilage, and other joint tissue damage. The doctor may also request blood tests that will help him to rule out other conditions that may be causing the knee pain
Like most other diseases, addressing the symptoms of knee OA from early stages helps prevent the condition from worsening. Various treatments are available for knee arthritis. As mentioned, this treatment’s primary aim is to stop the condition’s progression since damaged joints are not reversible. The main types of knee osteoarthritis include medications, non-surgical treatments, surgeries, and injections.
Your doctor will choose the right approach depending on your general wellbeing and the condition progression level. Like other arthritic conditions, lifestyle modifications can help protect your knee health and slow the progression of knee arthritis. Your physician may recommend following the following lifestyle changes.
Several types of medications and injections help in treating knee arthritis. However, since people respond to different medications, your physician will work closely to determine the right drugs and injections that are effective for you. Your doctor may recommend taking pain-relieving drugs to help ease the knee arthritis pain. These drugs include
Drugs such as acetaminophen are effective in relieving the pain associated with knee osteoarthritis. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen can help relieve pain and inflammation.
If over-the-counter medications do not work, your doctor will prescribe more potent painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and COX-2 inhibitors.
This medication comes in both over-the-counter and prescription formulas. They are usually creams that you can apply onto the skin over the knee joint skin. Unlike oral medications, topical analgesics do not carry risks such as dependency and stomach upsets.
Injections are also effective in treating knee OA symptoms. Some of the joint injections for knee arthritis include;
Hyaluronic acid injections– Also referred to as visco-supplementation-provide the lubricating fluid needed to reduce friction in the knee joint.
Platelet-rich therapy (PRP) injections – These injections help in boosting tissue repair and healing.
Stem cell injections –The injections contain cells harvested from your fat or bone marrow. When injected into the knee joint, these cells will promote new tissue growth.
Prolotherapy- this therapy form involves injecting several irritant injections to help restart the body’s natural healing process.
Physical therapy programs include specific exercises such as stretching, strengthening, and aerobics to help strengthen the muscles and increase your range of motion. Your physical therapist will develop a personalized program that addresses the issues that may be contributing to your knee pain and discomfort.
The exercises will help strengthen the knees’ muscles and stretch the inflexible, tight muscles such as your hamstring. Additionally, physical therapy programs will also include aerobic exercise that encourages proper circulation of fluids and nutrients in the body. Physical therapy also involves gait and posture training. Restoring the proper posture can help eliminate the stress on the knee that may be causing the pain and discomfort.
Most people suffering from knee osteoarthritis will never undergo surgeries. However, people experiencing severe symptoms or who do not respond to other treatments may only have surgery left as their best option.
Arthroscopy – This is a minimally invasive surgery that helps relieve pain and discomfort in the knee. The procedure involves making a small incision in the knee and using thin instruments to treat the problem.
Cartilage grafting- The procedure involves taking healthy cartilage tissue from another part of the body and filling the damaged cartilage in the knee joint. This surgery is appropriate for young patients with minimal cartilage damage.
Osteotomy – The surgery involves cutting and reshaping either femur or tibia bone, relieving the pressure on the knee joint. The procedure is often performed for people with mild OA, which has damaged only one side of the knee joint. By balancing the weight in the joint, the procedure will help relieve pain and slow the condition’s progression.
Arthroplasty – This procedure is performed for people with severe cartilage damage. The surgeon usually cuts the damaged cartilage and bone and then replaces them with plastic or metal surfaces, restoring your knee function.
Geniculate Artery Embolization (GAE), also known as genicular artery embolization, is a new and advanced minimally invasive procedure that provides immediate and long-term pain relief for patients suffering from osteoarthritis (OA). The procedure reduces the flow of blood to the synovium (the lining of the knee). By blocking these arteries, the inflammation that is associated with osteoarthritis reduces significantly, eliminating knee pain. Is GAE suitable for me? What benefits does it have over traditional OA treatments? Before answering these questions, let us first discuss what osteoarthritis is and its effect on our wellbeing.
Your treatment will begin with an ultrasound examination of your veins, arteries, or both, in your legs to diagnose the presence and extent of the disease. Your test results will be immediately available to review with the doctor.
Once we review the results of your diagnostic tests, our physicians will help you develop a plan to provide you with the best treatment for your disease.
Your treatment will begin with an ultrasound examination of your veins, arteries, or both, in your legs to diagnose the presence and extent of the disease. Your test results will be immediately available to review with the doctor.
Your treatment will begin with an ultrasound examination of your veins, arteries, or both, in your legs to diagnose the presence and extent of the disease. Your test results will be immediately available to review with the doctor.
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