June 29th, 2015
Three Common Culprits of an Arthritic Knee
Before you had pain, swelling and stiffness in your knee, you were active and able-bodied. You had no trouble getting in and out of your vehicle, walking up and down steps, or squatting down to pick up something off the ground.
Now, however, things have changed and life is more complicated. Simply standing or walking for long periods, using the restroom or getting up from a chair or the couch, can prove difficult and painful for you if you suffer from an arthritic knee.
Here at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, we’ve heard stories like yours thousands of times, and it’s patients like you that we are here to help. In fact, a core part of our mission is helping our patients return to active, pain free lifestyles as quickly as possible. We intend to:
“...provide our communities with high quality, compassionate, and affordable musculoskeletal care that is grounded in evidence based medicine, the results of which will exceed expectations.”
All About Knee Arthritis
Over 150 million Americans report having been diagnosed with some form of arthritis and patients with an arthritic knee make up a large percentage of that number. As one of the largest and strongest of the body’s joints, the knees take on significant responsibility for bearing weight and facilitating movement.
Arthritis is an inflammation within a joint, and there are over 100 different forms of the disease. As it progresses, it can significantly inhibit a person’s ability to perform everyday movements and conduct normal activities. An arthritic knee often exhibits one or more of the following symptoms:
- Stiffness, swelling, and inability to bend the knee fully
- Pain flare ups following activity
- Catching or locking of the joint, which may result in creaking or grinding noises
- Warmth or redness of the joint
- Pain that is worse in the morning, or after sitting for a long period of time
- Tenderness
- Instability, including weakness and bucking
- Difficulty bearing weight or walking without a limp
The inflammation that always accompanies an arthritic knee can be a result of various root causes. Below are three of the most common causes:
- Osteoarthritis: This is “wear and tear” arthritis that results from the degeneration of healthy cartilage and therefore, results in the loss of the protective cushion between bones in the knee joint.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: This autoimmune disease attacks the body’s own joints. It is commonly seen in knees and usually does effect both knees symmetrically.
- Posttraumatic Arthritis: An injury to the bones, ligaments or cartilage of the knee can result in the gradual loss of stability and can lead to arthritis years after the initial injury has healed.
What to Do When Knee Arthritis Strikes
Make an appointment with a knee specialist at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute by calling us today at 1-800-321-9999. When you see one of our physicians, they’ll conduct a physical examination, review x-rays and discuss the following treatment options with you:
- Lifestyle modifications
- Physical therapy
- Assistive devices
- Medications Surgery
With so many potential treatment options available, there’s no reason to live with pain, swelling, and instability in your knee. An arthritic knee can negatively affect your life, but receiving the proper care from some of the nation’s top orthopaedic physicians can return that quality of life.
Don’t wait. Call 1-800-321-9999 today to set up your appointment and regain the healthy, active, pain-free lifestyle you’ve been missing out on.
