Knee pain can happen for a variety of reasons. If you have been suffering from this condition for a very long period of time, it is time you take it seriously. Don’t wait until it cannot be cured.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints in your body. It causes the condition of pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness and mobility issues in the concerned joint.
If you have knee pain, it could be because of the following:
- Joint Injuries Caused by External Traumas
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Post-Traumatic Arthritis
Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis
The following are the various symptoms of knee arthritis:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Movement Problems
- Crepitus, i.e., the cracking or clicking sound while moving the concerned knee joint
- Inability to bear weight on the painful knee
- Loss of mobility
- Inflammation
- Tenderness, i.e., pain if you touch the surface of the knees
Let’s now answer the question. Yes if your knees are painful and it is getting worse each day, this could be a sign of the growth of arthritis.
However, for the exact diagnosis, you will have to consult a qualified doctor or orthopedic specialist to be precise.
If your knee pain is excruciating, ensure that you consult the best knee pain doctor in Delhi, otherwise the situation will worsen.
Treatments for Knee Arthritis
These are the non-surgical treatments for knee inflammation because of arthritis.
Medications: If a doctor has found out that the problem is not because of some underlying chronic condition of arthritis, you might be given pain medications to relieve the situation.
Physical Therapy: Exercise and stretches can also be recommended to cure pain and help regain flexibility and mobility once again. The best physiotherapist will enable you to get rid of knee pain without much difficulty.
Weight Management: If you are suffering from knee arthritis like osteoarthritis, the doctor can recommend that you reduce your weight in case you are overweight as it will reduce the pressure on your knees while moving around, slowing down the degenerative process related to the cartilage, a cushion-like tissue found in each of your knees.
Activity Modification: You can also be suggested to avoid activities that might worsen the situation like heavy exercises or rushing using the stairs if the doctor detects that the situation is getting worse to avert further possibilities of complications.
Assistive Devices: Suppose you have OA with pain and stiffness, but the situation is not such that you need a replacement surgery. In that case, you might be instructed to use walking aids like crutches, walkers, braces, etc.
Injections: Furthermore, the corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections can also be used. The former is an anti-inflammatory drug and used for the treatment of knee inflammation and pain while the latter is to lubricate the joint and alleviate several knee problems.
PRP Therapy: Sometimes, the doctor treating your knee pain might also go for a treatment called Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy. In this treatment, the concerned orthopedic doctor will first collect platelets from a patient’s blood and then insert it into the knee joint to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation.
Surgical Interventions
In addition to the preceding non-surgical medical interventions to treat knee pain, you also have the following options you might receive for treating knee pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation: This treatment can be used if other options are out of the list. It is used to destroy particular nerves to prevent the pain signals from reaching the brain. It stops you from feeling pain.
Total Knee Replacement: In this procedure, the surgeon will chisel the damaged knee parts away, cutting out useless bone sections, so that a new and fresh knee can be resurfaced with the help of implants.
Partial Knee Replacement: Each knee contains a pair of cartilage between the meeting bone ends. These are called menisci. Besides, each bone end meeting at the knee joint also has the lining of a flexible organic substance for smooth mobility called articular cartilage. When only the one side of the meniscus along with articular cartilage is worn-out, the knee joint is replaced partially, leaving the intact portion as it is.
Synovectomy: Knee pain is also caused by the inflammation of the synovium. This part of your knee produces synovial fluid that is important for lubrication. When this is the cause of pain, the surgeon will perform a synovectomy and remove the synovium so the pain can be eliminated.
If you are looking for the top orthopedic surgeon in India, make sure you consider everything from qualifications, location, experience, fellowship to hospital associations. It is a must to connect with the best doctor.
Benefits of Knee Replacements
Knee replacement surgery is useful in treating painful, stiff, and inflamed knees. The following are some of the advantages.
No More Pain: The value of a healthy knee and an unconstrained existence can only be realised by someone who is experiencing agonising knee pain. Regaining a life free of pain is, thus, the best result of the replacement. There will be no pain after all.
Increase in Mobility: Your knee joints are no longer inflamed following the replacement. Everything is ready to go just like before. Thus, another benefit is being able to move your knees and legs without much trouble.
Good Sleep: Healthy knee joints are essential to a regular life. It is no less than a nightmare when you have to go through knee discomfort all night. Thus, you will be able to sleep without any worries post-replacement.
Freedom from Dependence: You are able to use your legs pain-free and carry out all of your everyday essential activities without assistance.
Joint Damage: Osteoarthritis (OA) in the knee joints may progress if the joints are not replaced, which will lead to additional joint complications. Thus, no further damage to your knee after surgery is another upside to feel positive about.
Positive attitude: Once your troubling knees have been replaced, you are all good to go back to your normal life. And, this doesn’t just stop there at your knees by making them free of inflammation but it also enables you to have a more positive outlook on life!
Physical pain indeed makes most people slip into negative and suicidal thoughts. Hence, a knee replacement makes you a positive and happy person.
And hence finally as a result of all the preceding factors, your quality of life increases without any doubt.
