Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the inflammation of bones of the joints that happens due to wear and tear of cartilage.Knee osteoarthritis is often a progressive and irreversible degenerative process. Gradual onset of knee pain, stiffness and swelling are typical symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis of the knee is more common in older individuals and it may happen in younger individuals too. It is a leading cause of disability in people over age 50. Sometimes, it can be hereditary. For others, knee osteoarthritis can result from injury or infection or even from being overweight.

Osteoarthritis leads to :

• Break down of the cartilage in the joints or
• Growth of abnormal bone spurs called osteophytes

The osteoarthritic process is gradual, accompanied by on and off symptoms that eventually worsen over several years. An arthritic knee has thinned, damaged or missing cartilage in the joint. As knee osteoarthritis progresses, the patient may experience diminished range of motion of the knee, or ability to bear their own body weight.

CAUSES

• Aging
• Obesity
• Falls
• Joint injury
• Muscle weakness
• Bone deformities

SYMPTOMS

• Stiff and swollen joints
• Inability to bend or straighten the knee
• Worsening pain on after prolonged rest like getting out of bed in the morning or sitting
• Knee locking
• Clicking sounds of joint

INVESTIGATIONS

• X-ray
• CT scan
• MRI
• Blood tests

TREATMENT

Treatment intervention in the initial development stages of osteoarthritis may improve joint preservation, joint integrity and its function in the long-term, or even a lifetime. It can also save you from the debilitating pain and the possible need for joint replacement surgery. The treatment goal is to improve functionality of the knee and control pain.

NON-SURGICAL

• Lifestyle modifications to avoid activities that worsen pain
• Application of ice pack
• Physical therapy and Exercises
• Avoiding high impact activities
• Applying warm or cold compress
• Weight loss
• Medication (Analgesics)
• Using supportive devices and orthotics like elastic knee braces or using a cane on the opposite side of the affected knee.

SURGICAL

• Knee arthroscopy- removal of loose pieces of cartilage
• Knee osteotomy – reduce friction with bone alignment
• Knee arthroplasty – replace the knee joint with an artificial one.

Recovery from Knee Replacement surgery requires a long rehabilitation period.

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE

If there is no pain relief within 2 to 4 days of rest, then the individual should seek medical attention.

About Doctor:

Dr.KHALEELULLAH is a renowned gold medal award-winning Orthopaedician in Hyderabad. He has got extensive experience of more than 15 years and positioned himself as the best orthopedic surgeon in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He worked for nearly 8 years in the prestigious Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences(NIMS), Hyderabad where he acquired vast skills and knowledge about managing complicated orthopedic problems. He proved himself as the right Ortho Surgeon with MCH specialization with his deep interest in the area of joint reconstruction surgeries.