What is knee Osteoarthritis?


Osteoarthritis
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Osteoarthritis of the knee (gonarthrosis) is a wear and tear of the knee joint cartilage with secondary changes in the bones that form the knee joint. It occurs as part of normal aging, chronic overuse, improper strain, or after accidents. Mostly older people are affected, occasionally younger athletes after knee injuries.

The symptoms can be alleviated but not stop the changes through non-surgical treatment measures, e.g., B. drug pain therapy, physical therapy, or special shoe adjustments. Severe osteoarthritis requires surgical treatment when non-surgical measures can no longer control the pain. Arthroscopic procedures, conversion operations, or a knee endoprosthesis as a joint replacement operation can be considered in these cases.

  • Pain in the knee joint, especially in the morning after getting up (starting pain)
  • Unsteady gait on uneven ground
  • Swelling of the knee joint, especially after exertion
  • Increasing pain with labor such as climbing stairs, especially downstairs
  • Shortening of the walking distance and restriction of mobility are late symptoms.

The illness

Osteoarthritis of the knee begins with damage to the cartilage layer that covers all joint surfaces. Later, the destruction processes spread to the bone layer below the cartilage. In the normal aging process, damage occurs even without any particular stress at work or in sport. A major risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knee is being overweight. A lack of exercise further exacerbates the problem since the articular cartilage is less supplied with nutrients when at rest than when moving.

Some knee joint diseases also promote the occurrence of arthrosis(secondary arthrosis) because they put excessive strain on the articular cartilage in some places. These risk factors include congenital or acquired deformities, chronic damage to the ligaments, particularly the anterior cruciate ligament, damage to the cartilage from injury, and meniscus disease.

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If, for example, arthrosis develops in the inner area of ​​the knee joint after an injury to the medial meniscus, the doctor speaks of one medial gonarthrosis, corresponding to a lateral gonarthrosis due to wear and tear in the outer part of the joint. The femoral patellar part of the joint is also very often affected by the osteoarthritis process. Isolated one Femorol patellar arthrosis (chondromalacia patellae, retro patellar arthrosis), in which the cartilage layer is only damaged on the back of the kneecap, is rare. It usually occurs in middle age.

When the cartilage wears down, the bony parts of the joint rub against each other, leading to pain, inflammation, and reduced knee mobility. With or without treatment, this process continues inexorably. Sometimes the symptoms come to a head like a crisis if an inflammatory reaction is added to the arthrosis.

Such episodes of activated arthrosis usually occur due to overexertion, such as long periods of walking or standing. They are somewhat imprecisely referred to as irritable knees. This is what the doctor does. The MRI image of a knee joint with advanced arthrosis was seen from the front. In the right half of the image, the (primarily) intact articular cartilage and meniscus can be seen as an evenly broad, bright line. The joint space on the left side of the picture is narrowed, especially at the edge of the joint.

Suppose the cartilage is completely worn out, the bony parts of the joint rub against each other. This leads to pain, inflammation, and, in the long term, loss of mobility in the knee joint. With or without treatment, the disease progresses slowly but inexorably. Sometimes the symptoms come to a head like a crisis if an inflammatory reaction is added to the arthrosis. Such thrusts one Activated arthrosis usually occurs due to stress such as long periods of walking or standing. They are often called somewhat imprecise referred to as irritable knees.

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Conclusion

You should contact a specialist for knee pain that lasts longer than three days in the next few days. Also, if in the next few weeks, with all gradual reductions in walking distance, the correct option is to contact Hip and Knee Orthopaedics to help you check and manage the issue.

Also Read: Can Knee Osteoarthritis Be Cured.


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Michelle Gram Smith
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