What is
osteoarthritis?
The word arthritis means joint
inflammation. There are many types of arthritis among which osteoarthritis is
the commonest. Knee being a weight bearing joint is commonly affected by
osteoarthritis. The joint is usually stable until the disease reaches a stage
when knee becomes enlarged and swollen. Hence knee pain and osteoarthritis are bound to be interrelated.
Risk
Factors of osteoarthritis
The following are the important
risk factors of osteoarthritis
- Females are more affected than males.
- Occurs more in age group 55 years and above.
- Obesity increases the risks.
- Occupation which involves more weight bearing is at a greater risk.
- Sports activity
- Previous injury of the knee joint.
- Genetic factors.
- Calcium crystal deposition diseases like gout.
Cause of
osteoarthritis
There is a cartilage pad present
between the joint formed by the thigh bone and the shin bone. It plays an
important role in protecting the joint and acts as a shock absorber. In
osteoarthritis there is loss of the cartilage in knee. Cracks develop in the
bones surface when this cartilage wears away. The synovial fluid present
between the cartilage leaks into the crack and causes further damage. In some
cases it leads to cysts in the bone and other deformities.
Symptoms
and signs
The most important symptoms of
knee osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness. Pain can be a dull ache to
excruciating pain depending on the progress of the disease. Stiffness after
getting up in morning which lasts for not more than thirty minutes is
diagnostic. Crepitus may be present on active motion of the knee joint. There
is bony tenderness and bone enlargement.
Treatments
An early diagnosis and
appropriate treatment can make a difference in pain and joint damage. The focus
of treatment is to control pain, minimize joint damage and improve the quality
of life. Thiswill restore or maintain the functional independence.
The different modalities of
treatment are-
- Pharmacological treatment
- Non pharmacological treatment
- Surgery.
Pharmacological treatment is
based on drugs which reduces pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are
commonly used. Topical medication like capsaicin creams can be used.
Corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid injection in the knee joint can be used to
reduce joint pain. Weight loss is the main stay of non pharmacological
treatment. Patients experiencing severe pain may take a short period of rest.
People must be active physically and exercise to focus on muscle strengthening.
Walking, biking, swimming, yoga and tai chi are the different forms of exercise
that is good for osteoarthritis. Amongst the alternative therapy acupuncture
may give symptomatic relief.
Surgery includes arthroscopy or
total joint replacement. Arthroscopy is done to take out fragments of bone and
cartilage which is causing the pain and inflammation. Total joint replacement
(arthroplasty) is done when osteoarthritis is so severe that pain and
immobility makes normal functioning impossible.
A person must respect his knee pain, osteoarthritis and
other similar aches and pains. Make the necessary
lifestyle changes to prevent its progression and minimise the disability.
