Arthritis of knee joints is a painful, serious condition that worsens with age. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, can be found in either one or both of your knees. Most common symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness and stiffness in the knee joint. The symptoms can be treated with many different treatments.
OVERVIEW
What is arthritis of the knee?
Arthritis causes stiffness, pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints. It can also affect your strongest and largest joints. It is most common in the knees. It can be debilitating and serious.
There is no cure for knee arthritis. However, there are steps that you can take to ease your symptoms and possibly slow down the progression.
What is the knee joint?
Three bones form your knee joint. These bones include:
- Thighbone ( Femur).
- Shinbone (tibia).
- Kneecap (patella).
The ends of each bone are covered by a smooth substance called cartilage. The cartilage cushions between bones to prevent them from rubbing together. The cartilage is lubricated by the synovial membrane, which is a type of tissue that surrounds it.
What types of arthritis can you find in the knee?
There are approximately 100 types of arthritis. There are around 100 types of arthritis that could affect your knees.
- Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types. Osteoarthritis damages your cartilage, which is the cushion between your three knee bones. Your bones will rub against one another if they don’t have that protection. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and restricted movement. This can lead to the development of bone spurs. Osteoarthritis worsens with age.
- This is a form of osteoarthritis. After trauma to the knee, such as a car accident or contact sports injury, your cartilage begins to thin. The interaction of bones causes the same symptoms as osteoarthritis. They cause pain, stiffness, and limited movement. The symptoms of knee arthritis may not appear until many years after the injury.
- The autoimmune condition is Rheumatoid arthritis. Healthy immune systems cause inflammation (internal and external) to protect you against infection, injury, or other foreign invaders. Your body defends itself by triggering an inflammatory response.
Who is arthritis of the knee?
All ages can develop arthritis, even arthritis of the knee. You are more likely to develop knee arthritis if you are 50 years old or older. More women get knee arthritis than men.
Is arthritis of the knee common?
More than 50 million people have arthritis. Three hundred thousand children also have it. It is not known how many people have arthritis in the knee.
What are the stages in arthritis of the knee?
The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, affects your knees. There are five stages to it.
- Stage 1 (Normal). Stage 0 means your knees are in good health. There is no arthritis in the knee.
- Stage 1 Minor Stage 1 is when your knee joint has some wear. Most likely, you won’t feel any pain.
- Stage 2 Mild. The mild stage is when you may feel pain or stiffness but still have enough cartilage to prevent the bones from touching.
- Stage 3 Moderate. You’ll feel more pain if you are in the moderate stage. This is especially true if you are running, walking, squatting and kneeling. You will likely feel it even after a long rest, such as first thing in the morning. The cartilage has narrowed further, and there are many bone spurs.
- Stage 4 Severe, A severe case of osteoarthritis is when the cartilage is nearly gone. Your knee may be stiff, painful, or immobile. You might need surgery.
SYMPTOMS & CAUSES
What causes arthritis in the knee?
Experts have identified genes that could cause arthritis, including arthritis in the knee. They believe that more genes are still unknown. It is possible to have a gene that causes arthritis, even if you don’t know it. A virus or injury could cause arthritis in the knee.
Although the cause of arthritis in the knee is not known, some risk factors can increase the likelihood. Here are some risk factors for osteoarthritis:
- Age. Osteoarthritis is more common in older adults than in younger children and adults.
- Bone anomalies. You’re more likely to develop osteoarthritis if your bones or joints are naturally crooked.
- Gout. Gout can also be a form of inflammatory arthritis leading to osteoarthritis.
- Injuries. A knee injury can cause arthritis of the knee.
- Stress. Too much stress on the knees, whether running, playing sports, or being active, can cause osteoarthritis.
- Weight. More weight places more pressure on your knees.
What are the symptoms and signs of arthritis in the knee?
Many symptoms and signs can be seen in arthritis of the knee.
- Crepitus is a sound that makes clicking, grinding, snapping, or creaking noises.
- Walking is difficult.
- It is a condition that causes joint pain to change depending on the weather.
- Stiffness in the joints
- Buckling your knees
- Pain in the knee joints that develops slowly or suddenly.
- Skin redness.
- Swelling.
- When your knee is trying to move, it locks or sticks.
- Warm skin.
The most common signs of arthritis in the knee are pain and swelling. You may be able to reduce or stop the progression of your symptoms with some treatments. If you are experiencing symptoms of knee arthritis, consult your healthcare provider.