As modern society progresses and the aging population increases, so do the number of people suffering from joint pain. Most of the patients we meet in outpatient and inpatient settings mention some problems with knee pain, which are summarized in the following ten points: If you have knee pain and you are over 40 years old, please take a minute to browse through them.
1. What is osteoarthritis of the knee all about?
Osteoarthritis of the knee is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis of the knee occurs and develops as a process of gradual wear and tear of the joint cartilage, resulting in direct impingement between bone and bone. This occurs when the knee joint gap becomes narrower. The joint space of the knee is not only made up of cartilage, but also the joint fluid within the knee joint. Articular cartilage is softer than bone. The synovial fluid of the knee joint is a thick fluid. The joint fluid helps lubricate the joint and helps cushion the knee joint from shocks. As we grow older, our knee joints are not as lubricated as they were when we were younger, gradually leading to narrowing of the joint space and causing osteoarthritis of the knee.
2. What are the main signs of osteoarthritis of the knee?
The main manifestation of osteoarthritis of the knee is pain in the knee joint when walking, walking up and down stairs, or standing up. Some people with osteoarthritis of the knee say they can hear a rattling sound inside the knee joint, and more serious patients with osteoarthritis of the knee also have difficulty flexing and straightening the knee joint. If you are an athlete, especially one who runs and jumps a lot, such as a basketball player, you may develop osteoarthritis of the knee even in your 20s.
3. How can you tell if you have osteoarthritis of the knee?
The first thing we typically look for are signs of osteoarthritis in the knee, such as friction sounds. This sound may be heard when grinding the knee joint. This sound may be felt when moving the knee joint. Then there is the swelling or feeling of swelling in the knee joint in some patients. The swelling is caused by an excessive accumulation of inflammatory joint fluid inside the knee joint. Knee x-rays can reveal a narrowing of the knee joint space, which can reveal bone growth, and abnormal bone overgrowth. This is all related to the wear and tear of the knee cartilage and the reduction of joint lubricating fluid.
4. Why should I look at the position of your feet?
Because evaluating the foot can help determine the cause of knee pain. Flat feet and excessive inversion of the foot can cause excessive stress on the knee joint and produce knee pain. Abnormal force lines in the foot and ankle can often lead to knee pain. The use of foot and calf braces can reduce the loading stress on the knee joint and can help relieve knee pain in this group of patients.
5. What are the common treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee?
The main methods are drugs, physical exercise, intra-articular injections, arthroscopic surgery, and total knee replacement surgery.
6.What are the commonly used drugs?
Most patients take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as diclofenac sodium extended-release tablets (Fotalin), Celecoxib (Celebrex) and other similar drugs. Some creams (such as Fotarine ointment, etc.) or plasters can also be applied directly to the knee joint area.
7. How to do physical exercise?
Rehabilitation exercises play an important role in reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee can use ice, heat therapy, knee extension and flexion activity exercises. Quadriceps straight leg raise exercises and bicycle pedaling exercises are meaningful approaches. Acupuncture and massage can be helpful in reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Swimming and hydrotherapy are important for increasing knee mobility and reducing knee pain.
8.What if medication and physical exercise do not work well?
If medication and physical exercise do not work well, intra-articular steroid injections or hyaluronic acid injections can be used. Hyaluronic acid injection therapy is a more natural treatment. Hyaluronic acid is a basic component of the cartilage in the knee joint. Hyaluronic acid increases the lubrication of the knee joint and reduces knee pain. Generally, intra-articular injections are given once a week for 5 weeks. Its effect can generally be maintained for 6 to 12 months.
9.Can arthroscopy be used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee?
If there is a free body in the knee joint, the free body can be removed by a minimally invasive arthroscopic approach. Arthroscopy is very effective in resolving the anterior knee pain of many patellofemoral syndromes.
10.What if medications, exercises, intra-articular injections, and arthroscopic methods do not work well?
If medication, exercise, intra-articular injections, and arthroscopy do not work well and the joint space is already narrow, then we recommend total knee replacement surgery. In Japan, 130 million people, 60,000 knees undergo artificial total knee replacement surgery every year due to pain, swelling, limited movement, and disability. With a population of 2.32 million in Yangjiang, more and more patients with osteoarthritis of the knee must undergo artificial total knee replacement surgery to solve the problem of knee pain and inability to walk, and our department, being a bone and joint specialist, has long been able to perform total knee replacement on its own. Over the years, our department has accumulated a lot of experience in joint replacement surgery with satisfactory postoperative follow-up.