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Does your knee feel stiff when you wake up? And not just for a short time, but the soreness persists throughout the day and becomes better as you walk? Does that sound familiar? You’re not alone. It could be one of the most prevalent joint issues, particularly as we age or put greater strain on our joints. Knee Osteoarthritis (OA). Wondering what osteoarthritis in the knee exactly is? Read through!
Knee Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, is one of the most commonly occurring joint issues, especially if you are aging or put extra strain on your knees. This degenerative joint disease causes the cartilage that cushions your knee to progressively deteriorate. Your bones begin to scrape against one another directly when this cushioning disappears. This friction results in stiffness, discomfort, and edema.
Although it’s a chronic condition, which means it doesn’t go away entirely, many individuals can still enjoy active, satisfying lives if they receive the proper care and make correct lifestyle changes. Consider cartilage to be a kind of shock absorber. That absorber begins to degrade with age, trauma, or prolonged stress. This causes friction in the joint that starts to pain and make it rough to walk or do usual chores.
Knee Osteoarthritis doesn’t occur overnight or in a few days. It takes time to develop. It develops gradually and frequently in predictable stages. Being aware of your current situation will help you better control your symptoms and consult an expert. At Jain Multispeciality Hospital, all you need to do is look for the right doctor, and we will handle the rest of your journey. Here are the stages of Knee Osteoarthritis that you should know to recognize the early signs and symptoms.
Stage 1: Minor Modifications, No Pain As of Yet
At this point, you most likely won’t have any symptoms. There may be a minor thinning of the cartilage and the formation of tiny bone spurs. The majority of people aren’t even aware that anything is amiss yet.
Stage 2: The Start of Mild OA
You may now occasionally experience stiffness, particularly in the morning or after prolonged sitting. Although the distance between bones gets smaller, there is still enough cartilage to keep bones from touching.
Stage 3: Moderate OA, Initiation of Pain
The discomfort intensifies and lasts longer, particularly when walking, climbing stairs, or squatting. The level of inflammation rises. The loss of cartilage gets worse, and swelling and decreased flexibility may appear.
Stage 4: Severe OA
The cushioning cartilage is almost completely gone by this point. Direct bone-to-bone contact results in severe discomfort, stiffness, and edema. Your knee can freeze up or feel unsteady. Daily activities like bending or walking can become difficult. Many patients think about having a total knee replacement at this point.
The most common and frequent cause? Time. Years of wear and tear are frequently the cause of OA. However, aging isn’t the only condition that might accelerate cartilage degradation. There are multiple reasons that slowly and gradually contribute to knee osteoarthritis.
Some of the primary causes and risk factors are as follows:
The symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee can appear gradually. Even though you might dismiss them as ‘just getting older,’ early detection is crucial. Ignoring even the smallest of signs and symptoms of OA can lead to severe knee issues. Any physical issues, if treated on time, can stop or decrease their effect. While we keep on ignoring the initial signs, it tends to become more serious and harder to work on and treat.
The following are the most common and clear signs to look out for:
Although symptoms can fluctuate, if they are not treated, they usually get worse over time.
Osteoarthritis could be a major setback in your life. It starts to restrict your movement and slowly controls your life in ways that get annoying over time. While the initial stage of OA doesn’t affect a person’s mobility that much, however, when it increases, it affects the mobility so much that it creates dependency and affects mental health too.
Advanced knee OA can have an effect on your general quality of life in addition to your joints.
Among the possible issues that can affect your day-to-day life are:
You should see a professional if your knee discomfort doesn’t go away. The diagnosing procedure usually looks like this:
The key is early diagnosis. You have more options for halting advancement the earlier you catch it. The later you get to treat your knees, the longer it will take to bring in some relief. Joint pains can be excruciating, life-altering and can become a roadblock in your life. To make sure you don’t experience a huge setback in life, physically, mentally and emotionally, it is better to consult an expert at Jain Multispeciality Hospital.
If you are looking for suggestions for how to treat osteoarthritis knee pain, keep reading. There are numerous strategies for osteoarthritis knee pain relief and preserving mobility, even though there isn’t a single, universally applicable remedy or cure. Often, a combination of tactics is most effective. Let’s find the best treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
Lifestyle Changes
Physical Therapy
You can learn specific exercises from a physical therapist to increase your strength, flexibility, and balance. They will also teach you how to manage your pain and move safely.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Alternative Medicine
Regular acupuncture: These sessions can help some people with their pain. While the treatment and results vary according to the condition, acupuncture is said to have a good effect on knee osteoarthritis.
Surgery could be an option if non-surgical therapies are no longer effective and your everyday life is greatly impacted. While most people are in fear of surgeries, these are also one of the best treatments for OA. Surgeries are successful and provide long-term relief. However, choosing the right surgeon for the same is the key. Get in touch with the finest staff at Jain Multispecialty Hospital, and you are done with your OA.
Arthroscopy: A minimally invasive technique for joint cleaning, less successful with advanced OA.
Osteotomy: Realigns the knee to relieve pressure on the injured region.
A prosthetic joint is used to replace the damaged bone and cartilage in a partial or total knee replacement.
Although surgery is a big step, many people find that their mobility and quality of life significantly improve as a result. So, if you are done with your knee pains, make sure you consult a professional for the right options available. Be it surgery, lifestyle changes, over-the-counter medications or physical changes, recognizing the issue and addressing it with the right professional is important.
Even though osteoarthritis in your knees can last a lifetime, it doesn’t have to rule your life. You can control symptoms, halt its progression, and maintain your level of activity by being aware of how it gets better by acting early.
Pay attention to your body. Seek assistance as required. Jain Multispeciality Hospital is your best pick when it comes to knee-related issues. The staff of highly qualified experts at the hospital await your visit. They are ready to deliver what’s best for you. Visit soon!
