Arthritis is not technically a disease, but a condition defined by inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or many joints, and it can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and weakness in the joints. It afflicts more than 50 million adults and over 300,000 children in the United States.
Medical specialists break down arthritis into more than 100 different types, some of which go by another name. The most common type is osteoarthritis, but rheumatoid arthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and lupus are all classified as arthritic conditions. When you take it as a whole, arthritis, then, can strike at any age.
However, the most common type, osteoarthritis, is the one that most people think of when they think of arthritis, and the type of arthritis people mean when talking about the knees. Osteoarthritis usually develops after the age of 50, but it can occur at any age. Since it is caused, essentially, by “wear and tear” on the knee joint, people who do a lot of weight-bearing activities can develop it early on in life. For example, a warehouse worker who has to carry heavy boxes around on a concrete floor every day and puts a lot of repetitive stress on his knees may develop arthritis while in his 30s.
The fact is, most people have some level of arthritis once they reach their 60s, simply because the cartilage in the knee wears down after so many years of use and of bearing most of the body’s weight. Some people have a genetic predisposition to get arthritis, and those who are very physically active and those who already have bone anomalies are also more at risk. More men than women get arthritis before the age of 50, but after 50, more women than men will get arthritis. This is often because women gain weight after menopause, and this extra weight can put extra stress on the joints after half a lifetime of wear and tear.
When to See a Specialist
While pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms of arthritis, there are several other indicators. “Crepitus” is the word that is given to the creaking, grinding, snapping, or clicking noise that happens when patients move their joints, and it is a common symptom of arthritis. In addition, a person may have difficulty walking, the knees can buckle, and skin can swell or feel warm or look red. If you have any of these symptoms and they do not abate after a few weeks of rest and taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory or pain reliever medications, you should see an orthopedic specialist.
Initially, your doctor will examine your knees to see if the symptoms you are experiencing are consistent with arthritis, or may be indicative of other knee problems. Your doctor will perform diagnostic tests, and may order images of your knee. If you are diagnosed with arthritis, the next step will be to determine what the appropriate treatment should be.
How to Treat Arthritis in the Knees
Nowadays, most joint diseases can be treated without any surgery or with minimally invasive surgical procedures. If your arthritis is not very advanced, your doctor might recommend that you take some basic steps that can relieve your condition, such as losing weight, selecting lower-impact exercises like walking, wearing special inserts in your shoes, wearing a knee brace, and getting some physical therapy. In many cases, these simple steps can do a great deal to relieve pain and weakness in the knees and will provide more broad health benefits, as well.
If arthritis has progressed to the point that there is a significant loss of bone and loss of cartilage, surgery is likely to be necessary. When possible, Dr. Tchejeyan at Tchejeyan Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine utilize arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical method that usually does not involve the use of general anesthesia and is performed as an outpatient procedure.
Take Care of Your Knees and Take Care of Your Health
Even if you are young, you can get arthritis, so do not ignore chronic knee pain, thinking that it will “just go away” or that you are too young to have this condition. Arthritis in the knees can become so debilitating that it can prevent you from being able to carry out even normal, everyday activities. What is more, when you cut back on activities like walking, not only can arthritis get worse, but your overall health will suffer and your enjoyment of life can be greatly reduced.
If you have knee pain and suspect it may be arthritis, you need to get it diagnosed and treated so that you can get back on track with your life, regain your vigor, and improve your health. Contact us today at TJN Ortho to schedule a consultation appointment.
