Arthritis Knee Pain Can be Painful

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Arthritis Knee Pain Can be Painful

Unfortunately, Arthritis knee pain can be painful and it very common in older Americans. One of the common cause of Arthritis is Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis impacts more than 27 million men and women.

Our knee is essence a hinged joint.  This joint is formed by two bones that are held together by four ligaments. The joint is surrounded by a membrane that produces a fluid which helps to nourish the cartilage and keep the slippery.

Our knees suffer from the wear and tear of our daily lives. If we are joggers, the pounding of our running can impact  our knees.

Another factor that will have an impact on our knees is being over weight. The extra weight will put extra pressure on our knee which will cause additional significant wear and tear. It is amazing to see how much damage can be done to one’s knees just by being over weight.

Arthritis in the knee is common in people over the age of 50. There is also a correlation with people who are overweight or who have suffered knee injuries at some point in their life.

The pain of knee arthritis will increase as the condition worsens. Another interesting fact about this illness is that Arthritis in the knee does not typically increase steadily over time.

Some patients will complain that the pain variries with the weather and other factors that don’t appear to be related.

One of the most common symptoms that patients complain about when they have arthritis pain in their knee is that the pain increases with exercise and overall activity.

Many have limited range of motion and they have swelling in the joints. They feel stiffness in the joints and they experience tenderness when they press on the knee some cases the knee may become deformed.

A study that was conducted at the University of Iowa found that women who had strong thigh muscles, quadriceps, were 50% less likely to develop knee pain compared to those who had the weaker muscles. This supports previous research that sounds strong quadriceps muscles protects against cartilage loss.  However, the increased muscle strength did not prevent osteo arthritis but actually decreased the pain and symptoms that the woman experienced.  X-ray evidence showed that 10% of those individuals with strong muscles who had no pain did have evidence of arthritis on x-ray.

Patients are sometimes diagnosed and treated by physical therapists. These physical therapists can help them develop treatment programs to improve their muscle strength and range of motion.

Patients who have arthritis in the knee can also walk better and lessen their pain by using a cane held in the hand opposite from the side with the arthritis.

Some individuals will reduce the amount of pain they experience by using cortisone injections into the joints.  These injections should occur every two to three months. Another measure that can be taken to minimize the pain is to use braces. there are special braces that have been developed for people suffering from osteo arthritis in the knee.

The most common cause for inflammation in individuals over the age of 40 is arthritis, or more specifically rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

You should always consult with your doctor before taking any medication or beginning any medical program.

If you would like additional information about Arthritis pain, visit our previous post.