Knee Pain & Osteoarthritis

Knee Pain

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. Pain, swelling, and stiffness are the primary symptoms of arthritis. Any joint in the body may be affected by the disease, but it is particularly common in the knee.

Knee arthritis can make it hard to do many everyday activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. It is a major cause of lost work time and a serious disability for many people.

The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but there are more than 100 different forms. While arthritis is mainly an adult disease, some forms affect children.

Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are many treatment options available to help manage pain and keep people staying active.

Anatomy of the Knee

The knee is the largest and strongest joint in your body. It is made up of the lower end of the femur (thighbone), the upper end of the tibia (shinbone), and the patella (kneecap). The ends of the three bones where they touch are covered with articular cartilage, a smooth, slippery substance that protects and cushions the bones as you bend and straighten your knee.

Two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage called meniscus act as "shock absorbers" between your thighbone and shinbone. They are tough and rubbery to help cushion the joint and keep it stable.

The knee joint is surrounded by a thin lining called the synovial membrane. This membrane releases a fluid that lubricates the cartilage and reduces friction.

Types of Arthritis of the Knee

The major types of arthritis that affect the knee are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and posttraumatic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the knee. It is a degenerative,"wear-and-tear" type of arthritis that occurs most often in people 50 years of age and older, but may occur in younger people, too.

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the knee joint gradually wears away. As the cartilage wears away, it becomes frayed and rough, and the protective space between the bones decreases. This can result in bone rubbing on bone, and produce painful bone spurs.

Osteoarthritis develops slowly and the pain it causes worsens over time.

Osteoarthritis often results in bone rubbing on bone. Bone spurs are a common feature of this form of arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Knee

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that attacks multiple joints throughout the body, including the knee joint. It is symmetrical, meaning that it usually affects the same joint on both sides of the body.

In rheumatoid arthritis the synovial membrane that covers the knee joint begins to swell, This results in knee pain and stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system attacks its own tissues. The immune system damages normal tissue (such as cartilage and ligaments) and softens the bone.

Post-traumatic Arthritis of the Knee

Posttraumatic arthritis is form of arthritis that develops after an injury to the knee. For example, a broken bone may damage the joint surface and lead to arthritis years after the injury. Meniscal tears and ligament injuries can cause instability and additional wear on the knee joint, which over time can result in arthritis.

Symptoms of Arthritis in the Knee

A knee joint affected by arthritis may be painful and inflamed. Generally, the pain develops gradually over time, although sudden onset is also possible. There are other symptoms, as well:

The joint may become stiff and swollen, making it difficult to bend and straighten the knee.
Pain and swelling may be worse in the morning, or after sitting or resting.
Vigorous activity may cause pain to flare up.
Loose fragments of cartilage and other tissue can interfere with the smooth motion of joints. The knee may "lock" or "stick" during movement. It may creak, click, snap or make a grinding noise (crepitus).
Pain may cause a feeling of weakness or buckling in the knee.
Many people with arthritis note increased joint pain with rainy weather.

Treatment of Arthritis in the Knee

Nonsurgical treatment options include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Some people benefit from medications like ibuprofen, Celebrex and naproxen. Others prefer turmeric or curcumin, considered natural anti-inflammatories. Glucosamine and chondroitin are popular supplements for arthritic joints and have shown equal efficacy of pain relief as Celebrex but with fewer risks.
Physical therapy has been shown to help with arthritic knee pain. Strengthening of both the hips and knees is beneficial.
Viscosupplementation is the injection of a thick oily like substance into the knee joint. It is typically performed 1-3 times on a weekly basis. It may be repeated every 6 months if it is helpful. It may have an accumulative benefit with additional treatments.
Steroid injections done over a two year time period were shown to actually accelerate the loss of cartilage in the knee and provide no greater pain relief than those who received no treatment.
Prolotherapy, ozone and platelet rich plasma have all been shown to help with the pain of osteoarthritis. Stem cell injections are showing promise as an effective treatment as well.
Subcutaneous nerve injections with 5% dextrose around the knee have been proven to relieve knee pain.