Getting older can bring health problems and complications along with it. It is a fact of life. We often worry about developing heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, loss of vision, or loss of hearing as we get older; and many of us do our best to monitor these aspects of our health to try and prevent these complications from happening. But another serious disease that may not be on your radar is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect anyone at any age, but the risk of developing this painful condition increases greatly as we get older.

About Osteoarthritis

You probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your cartilage – the smooth, firm, flexible tissue found in your nose, in your ears, and in joints throughout your body. But it is important to take steps to protect it because it serves a very important function.

Articular cartilage refers specifically to the cartilage in your joints that cushions your bones and helps them glide over each other smoothly when you move. It is necessary for day-to-day movement throughout your body, whether it be using joints in your wrist, hand and fingers to write; or using joints in your hips, knees, and feet to walk. Articular cartilage can, however, break down over time and cause a degenerative joint disease called osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis can occur in joints all over the body, and commonly affects the hands, feet, spine, knees, and hips. As the cartilage weakens, it becomes less smooth and less flexible, causing irritation, stiffness, and pain in the joints. Cartilage can eventually wear down entirely, leaving bones to rub together and subjecting them to damage at the surface of the joint. This wearing down of bone can also cause formation of painful growths called bone spurs.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

The knee, the largest joint in the body, is the meeting point of the thigh bone, or femur, and the shin bone, or tibia. It is also prone to developing osteoarthritis. The ends of these bones are covered by cartilage. In addition, each knee contains two pieces of cartilage. One piece is called the meniscus, which further serves to support the body’s weight and cushion the knee joint. The other is called the synovial membrane, which helps lubricate the cartilage and facilitate motion of the knee. Osteoarthritis causes inflammation of the tissues in the knee, which can result in a limited range of motion, a decreased ability to absorb shock, pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Causes of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis can be brought on by any one of these factors, or by a combination of factors, including:

• Natural aging – osteoarthritis is usually experienced by people over 40 years old

 

• Heredity – people with a family history of osteoarthritis are at greater risk

 

• Obesity – being overweight causes additional stress on the joints

 

• Gender – women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis than men

 

• Previous injury – such as joint damage from an accident or from playing sports

 

• Repetitive stress to the knee – such as in athletics or frequent squatting or kneeling at work

 

• Other existing forms of arthritis – rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes permanent joint inflammation; gout, arthritis caused by high uric acid levels in the blood; or septic arthritis, an inflammation of a joint or joints caused by an infection.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis typically causes inflammation in the knee that result in pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.

These symptoms can be aggravated by movement, causing difficulty with everyday activities such as walking, climbing up or down stairs, or getting up from a chair. Stiffness can also occur during periods of sitting or inactivity.

The effects of osteoarthritis normally begin gradually and increase over many years.

Diagnosis

Osteoarthritis of the knee is diagnosed by assessing the nature and severity of the knee pain, along with symptoms such as swelling, reduced range of motion, and any cracking or grinding sounds during movement of the knee. A doctor may take X-rays to look for signs of osteoarthritis including:

• Narrowed joint space

 

• Abnormal bone density

 

• The presence of bone spurs

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can provide more detail on the extent to which cartilage has already been damaged. A blood test may also be performed to rule out the presence of other types of arthritis.

Treatment

There is no cure for osteoarthritis. However, there are treatments that can lessen the pain and stiffness caused by the condition. Treatments include physical therapy, medication, and low-impact exercise. In some cases, knee replacement surgery is recommended for patients with debilitating pain that has not responded to other treatment.

Non-Surgical Treatment

The symptoms of osteoarthritis can be managed with one or more of the following treatments. Work with your physician to find the treatment that best suits your needs.

• Knee brace: a brace which provides additional support may lessen the stress and strain on the knee and relieve pain

 

• Exercise: strengthening muscles and increasing flexibility can help joints stay healthy; low-impact exercises like riding a stationary bicycle or yoga might be recommended in some cases

 

• Weight Control: maintaining a healthy body weight can relieve joints of excess strain

 

• Heat therapy/cold therapy: using a heat compress, a cold compress, or icing the knee can provide temporary pain relief or reduce inflammation

 

• Medication: a doctor can prescribe medication to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, or both

Your doctor can help you devise a plan involving one or more of these treatments for self-management of the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Surgical Treatment

When a patient’s mobility is severely limited by the effects of osteoarthritis, and they can no longer perform routine daily activities, surgical treatment can be an option.

• Knee replacement: Thousands of knee replacement surgeries are performed each year, and they are very effective in relieving pain and restoring mobility. Knee replacement surgery, known as arthroplasty, involves placing a metal cap on the bottom of the thigh bone and a fitting a plate on the shin bone with a plastic hinge. This joins these two bones to form an artificial knee joint.

 

• Arthroscopy: A procedure called arthroscopy can be performed when a patient has a knee joint that tends to lock in place. This surgery cleans out the loose fragments of bones and other tissues that are floating in the joint space.

 

• Osteotomy: A surgical procedure called osteotomy can provide relief to a patient with osteoarthritis that has damaged one side of the knee. In this procedure, the surgeon reshapes and repositions the affected bones, in order to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Living with Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of the knee can limit the mobility and affect the day-to-day quality of life for people who suffer from it. While the condition cannot be cured, with proper diagnosis and treatment, the symptoms can be managed – but each patient must take an active role in the self-management of their osteoarthritis.