Over the course of our lives, we are likely to face an issue with our knees, whether it is an acute injury or a degenerative disease. In fact, an estimated 25% of adults are struggling with pain in this joint. When you feel pain, it could be a problem with the muscles, ligaments, or the cartilage in the knee. Dr. Gregory H. Tchejeyan at TJN Orthopedics in Thousand Oaks, CA  is a specialist in knee anatomy and can help you to recover, no matter what caused your injury.

The knee is a complex joint that includes many bones, ligaments, and muscles. All these structures are exposed to repeated shocks when you move around as part of your daily activities or during exercise. That’s why having a sufficient amount of cartilage to absorb shock and ensure smooth gliding of the bones is so important. There are two main types of cartilage in your knee, called articular and meniscal cartilage, and they protect the joint in different ways.

Articular Cartilage

This type of cartilage covers the end of the femur bone, where it joins the tibia at the knee. It is smooth, white, and shiny, and when a person is healthy, it allows the ends of the two bones to glide over each other without problems. There is also a small amount of liquid, called synovial fluid, present that helps to keep it in good working order.

Sometimes, the articular cartilage wears down and stops functioning properly. There are many reasons for this to happen, and some of the most common ones are being overweight age or having joint disease. In some cases, a former injury can also be the cause of cartilage degeneration. Although you should be able to keep using the joint, damage to the articular cartilage can be painful, so you should contact a specialist to find out whether you can be treated.

Meniscal Cartilage 

There are two meniscal cartilages on each knee: one on the inside and one on the outside, and they help to absorb the shock when you walk, run, or jump. They are usually not easy to injure, so a significant shock or injury is required to cause damage. If you’ve hurt your meniscus, you might feel your knee locking, painful clicking, swelling, or the joint giving way when you try to use it.

As patients age, a more gradual meniscus problem can sometimes present itself, usually between the ages of 40 to 60. This isn’t caused by an acute injury, but because of the wear and tear that comes with getting older. Over time, it can become severe, so it’s worth speaking to a qualified orthopedic surgeon about the issue. They will be able to tell you whether you should try a holistic method such as losing weight to alleviate the pain or whether surgical intervention is necessary. After all, a proper diagnosis means everything when it comes to joint health. There are two types of cartilage present in the knee joint: articular and meniscal cartilage. Both of them can get injured or deteriorate, particularly in patients over 40 who move around a lot. ContactTJN Orthopedics in Thousand Oaks, CA to book an initial consultation with Dr. Gregory H. Tchejeyan and find out how your knee pain can be resolved today!