Osteoarthritis of the knee affects the bones, cartilage, and synovium in the knee joint. It equally affects the muscles surrounding knee joint.
Cartilage is a slippery tissue that provides a smooth surface for joint motion and acts as a cushion between the bones. Synovium, which is soft and lines the joints, produces synovial fluid for lubrication and supplies nutrients and oxygen to the cartilage.
As these functions break down, they no longer protect the bones of the knee joint. This in turn can lead to bone damage.
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of osteoarthritis include:
• Older age: The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.
• Gender: Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
• Obesity: Increased weight adds stress to weight-bearing joints, such as hips and knees. Also, fat tissue produces proteins that can cause inflammation in and around joints.
• Joint injuries. Injuries, such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident, can increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Even injuries that occurred many years ago and seemingly healed can increase risk of osteoarthritis.
• Bone deformities. Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage.
OA of the knee can cause pain and stiffness. The symptoms worsen over time.
Stages : there are 4 stages of osteoarthritis of knee according to KL( Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) classification), based on of X-ray images of OA of the knee.
Symptoms
- Pain and stiffness
- Pain can occur in the joint or in the surrounding muscles of thigh and calf
- Knee cracks or pops with movement
- Swelling
- Deformity
- Swelling behind knee joint
- Morning stiffness
Nonsurgical treatments of knee pain
- Medicines like over the counter pain killers
- Physiotherapy exercises
- Knee braces, knee caps etc
- Intraarticular steroid injections
- Intraarticular hyaluronic acid injection
- Pulsed radiofrequency of nerves around knee joint
- Ultrasound guided dry needling
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Platelet rich plasma therapy
If you are suffering from knee pain and looking for nonsurgical options, call us on 9823743726 to know more.
