The approach for treating OA of the knee usually changes over time. A doctor will probably start by recommending lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and exercise. If symptoms progress, however, you may need to start thinking about surgery.
Full Answer
What is OA of the knee and how is it treated?
OA of the knee happens when the cartilage — the cushion between the knee joints — breaks down. This can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. There is no cure for OA of the knee, but treatment can help relieve discomfort and slow the damage. It can improve also your quality of life and help you better keep up with your day-to-day activities.
Why are most patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) affected by other underlying diseases?
Because most patients with knee OA are also affected with cardiovascular or renal underlying diseases which may be aggravated with OA medications. References 56. Peat G, Thomas E, Duncan R, Wood L. Is a false-positive clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis just the early diagnosis of preradiographic disease?
What is the primary treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee?
The primary treatment for OA knee conservatively is exercise therapy within physiotherapy. Physiotherapy normally involves The first-line treatment for all patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis includes patient education and physiotherapy.
What is the first-line treatment for osteoarthritis (OA)?
Drug therapy alongside physiotherapy should be the first-line treatment for patients with symptomatic OA. There are a wide variety of NSAIDs available, however, caution should be used when prescribing NSAIDs due to their side effects. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are available as dietary supplements.
What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis in knees?
The treatment plan will typically include a combination of the following:Weight loss. ... Exercise. ... Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. ... Injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid into the knee. ... Alternative therapies. ... Using devices such as braces. ... Physical and occupational therapy. ... Surgery.
What is the progression of OA?
Generally, radiological lesions gradually and slowly increase. However, the pace of this progression can be very variable. In extreme cases, some cases of osteoarthritis may remain stable for decades, while others progress very rapidly to complete destruction of the cartilage in the space of a few months.
What are the 4 stages of osteoarthritis treatment?
The four stages of osteoarthritis are:Stage 1 – Minor. Minor wear-and-tear in the joints. Little to no pain in the affected area.Stage 2 – Mild. More noticeable bone spurs. ... Stage 3 – Moderate. Cartilage in the affected area begins to erode. ... Stage 4 – Severe. The patient is in a lot of pain.
How do you slow the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee?
Slowing Osteoarthritis ProgressionMaintain a Healthy Weight. Excess weight puts additional pressure on weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. ... Control Blood Sugar. ... Get Physical. ... Protect Joints. ... Choose a Healthy Lifestyle.
What is the latest treatment for osteoarthritis?
Despite this, no therapies have been able to halt or delay OA progression satisfactorily or provided effective and long-lasting symptomatic relief. Currently, joint replacement with an artificial prosthesis is the most effective measure to improve pain sensation and quality of life in patients.
How many stages are there in osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is divided into five stages. Stage 0 is assigned to a normal, healthy knee. The highest stage, Stage 4, is assigned to severe OA. OA that has become this advanced is likely to cause significant pain and disrupt joint movement and function.
What are the 4 stages of osteoarthritis in the knee?
Here is a look at the stages of osteoarthritis of the knee ranging from normal, minor, mild, moderate and severe stages, with appropriate treatment plans.
What happens in stage 4 of osteoarthritis?
In stage 4 cartilage is almost non existent which causes severe inflammation in the joint, there are multiple bone spurs, and pain is at its highest point. The treatments for this stage of OA often include realignment or replacement surgery.
What are the 4 stages of osteoarthritis UK?
BlogStage 1 – Minor. This is the least severe stage of OA. ... Stage 2 – Mild. This is when X-rays will start to show more noticeable bone spur growths (growths that often develop where bones meet each other in the joint). ... Stage 3 – Moderate. ... Stage 4 – Severe.
How do you treat arthritic knees?
How is arthritis of the knee treated?Maintain a healthy weight.Exercise using low-impact activities (swimming, cycling) instead of high-impact activities (jogging, tennis). ... Wear shock-absorbing inserts in your shoes.Apply heat or ice to the area.Wear a knee sleeve or brace.More items...•
How long does it take for knee osteoarthritis to progress?
Osteoarthritis is generally a slowly progressive disorder. However, at least 1 in 7 people with incident knee osteoarthritis develop an abrupt progression to advanced-stage radiographic disease, many within 12 months.
What are the 3 stages of osteoarthritis?
The main stages of OA are:Stage 0 (pre-osteoarthritis)Stage 1 (early or doubtful)Stage 2 (mild or minimal)Stage 3 (moderate)Stage 4 (severe)
What to do if your knee is OA?
relief. Frequent steroid injections may also lead to negative side effects, so a doctor will usually limit these treatments. 6. Surgery. If joint pain becomes severe, and other therapies don’t help, a doctor may recommend surgery. There are various surgical options for treating OA of the knee.
How to stop knee pain from OA?
If OA is causing pain and stiffness in your knee joint, the first step is to ask your doctor to help you come up with an individualized treatment plan . Early intervention is the best way to stop joint damage from getting worse — and more painful — over time. Ask your doctor about best options for exercise and medication.
How to manage OA of knee?
Learn more about why weight management is important and what kind of diet can help you better manage OA of the knee. 2. Get regular exercise. Exercise is crucial if you have OA of the knee. It can help you: manage your weight. build up muscle strength to support your knee joint. stay mobile. reduce stress.
What are some exercises to strengthen the quadriceps?
walking. swimming or other water aerobics. tai chi. yoga. stretching, strengthening, and balancing exercises. Riding a stationary bike can also help maintain strength in the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups without putting pressure on your knee joints.
What is the most common type of arthritis?
Osteoarthritis ( OA) is the most common type of arthritis. OA of the knee happens when the cartilage — the cushion between the knee joints — breaks down. This can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling.
How long can you postpone surgery?
These, as well as other lifestyle changes, can usually postpone the need for surgery for several years.
What is the procedure to repair a knee?
Arthroscopic surgery. This is a minimally invasive procedure in which a surgeon uses an arthroscope, a type of camera, to view the inside of the knee. While they do so, they can also repair an injury or clean out debris, such as bone fragments, from the joint to better preserve healthy joint tissue.
What is the best treatment for knee pain?
For example, if you need to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief, you should also try exercise, weight loss, and protecting your knee from unnecessary stress.
What does X-rays show in knee joints?
X-rays of knee joints in this stage will reveal greater bone spur growth, but the cartilage is usually still at a healthy size. In other words, the space between the bones is normal, and the bones aren’t rubbing or scraping one another.
What happens to the cartilage between the bones in stage 3 OA?
In this stage, the cartilage between bones shows obvious damage, and the space between the bones begins to narrow. People with stage 3 OA of the knee are likely to experience frequent pain when walking, running, bending, or kneeling.
How long does it take for corticosteroid injections to wear off?
The effects of a corticosteroid injection may wear off in about 2 or 3 months, after which the injections may be repeated.
What is a stage 0 knee?
Stage 0 (Normal) Stage 0 OA is classified as “normal” knee health. The knee joint shows no signs of OA and the joint functions without any impairment or pain.
Why are opioids not recommended for long term use?
Narcotic medications such as opioids aren’t recommended for long-term use due to the risk of increased tolerance and possible dependence.
How to protect your joints from exertion?
Protect your joint from exertion by avoiding kneeling, squatting, or jumping.
Do I need to lose weight?
Your knees have to support the weight of your body, and extra weight creates additional stress.
Should I use an assistive device?
Certain assistive devices may help ease OA knee pain, but purchasing the wrong product or using it incorrectly can hurt more than help.
What is cartilage grafting?
Cartilage grafting: The surgeon takes healthy cartilage from another part of the knee to fill in where cartilage is damaged.
What is the fluid that is injected into the knee called?
Viscosupplementation involves injecting a thick fluid called hyaluronate, or hyaluronic acid, into your knee.
What to do when your knees are stiff?
Knee pain and stiffness can make exercise daunting , but it’s still vitally important for your joints and your overall health. Research has shown that walking, cycling, strengthening, and neuromuscular training can help. Experts also recommend tai chi and yoga.
What type of surgery is done to remove a damaged bone and cartilage?
Osteotomy: The surgeon will cut and reshape bone on the shin or thigh and take pressure off of the knee. Arthroplasty: The surgeon will carry out a partial or total knee replacement. They will remove the damaged bone and cartilage and replace the joint with a plastic or metal joint.
How to treat OA of knee?
The approach for treating OA of the knee usually changes over time. A doctor will probably start by recommending lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and exercise. If symptoms progress, however, you may need to start thinking about surgery.
How can I reduce stress on my knees?
You may eventually opt for surgery, but, in the meantime, a few lifestyle changes can help improve symptoms.
Is viscosupplementation a good choice for me?
Viscosupplementation involves injecting a thick fluid called hyaluronate, or hyaluronic acid, into your knee.
Is it time for surgery?
A doctor will usually recommend surgery only if other treatments have not worked.
How to treat OA of knee?
The approach for treating OA of the knee usually changes over time. A doctor will probably start by recommending lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and exercise. If symptoms progress, however, you may need to start thinking about surgery.
What is the best treatment for knee OA?
Intraarticular corticosteroid therapy is usually used for treatment of knee OA. This type of treatment is especially recommended in patients who did not respond to acetaminophen and NSAIDs in particular is said to be effective in those patients who have joint effusion. Aspiration of synovial fluid and intraarticular injection of long-acting corticosteroid such as methyprednisolone, tramcinolone exert beneficial effects in relieving pain, improvement of function and preparing patients for continuing further treatment like physical therapy and participating in weight reduction programs. Several studies have shown a short period of benefits for six weeks or longer with intraarticular corticosteroid therapy compared with placebo (83- 85).
What are the surgical procedures for knee OA?
Surgical treatments for knee OA include arthroscopy, osteotomy and knee arthroplasty. Determining which of these procedures are most appropriate will depend on several factors, including the location and severity of OA damage, patient characteristics and risk factors.
How to treat knee OA?
Using thermal modalities may be effective for relieving symptoms of knee OA. Cryotherapy may be administered by the application of ice packs or massage with ice. On the other hand, short term diathermy was not effective.
How long does it take for knee OA to progress?
A proportion of patients with knee OA have a progressive course. The rate of progression varies across the life stages based on the presence or absence of some associated factors. In the elderly persons, the rate of progression is low (60). In Framingham study, over a mean follow up period of 8.1 years, a progressive rate of 4% per year was observed among patients with knee OA. In another study of 32 patients with knee OA who were followed up for 2 years, about 6.1% of cartilage volume had lost over the study period. In this study, progression of knee OA was evident as early as six months after the start of the study (61).
What is differential diagnosis of knee OA?
Several conditions should be considered in the differential diagnosis of knee OA. Septic arthritis, inflammatory articular diseases can be ruled out by the pattern of joint involvement and appropriate clinical features and laboratory tests.
Can a knee brace help with varus instability?
Mild or moderate varus or valgus instability may be partly improved by using knee brace. Using valgus brace was shown to improve WOMAC scores (93). Knee braces and foot orthoses could be cautiously considered as conservative management for relief of pain and stiffness and improving physical function for persons with knee osteoarthritis (94). The results of previous studies suggest that knee braces and foot orthoses are effective in decreasing pain, joint stiffness, and drug dosage. They also improve proprioception, balance, Kellgren/Lawrence grading, and physical function scores in subjects with varus and valgus knee osteoarthritis. Using insoles can reduce pain and improve ambulation. Lateral wedged insoles can be of symptomatic benefit for some patients with medial tibiofemoral compartment OA.
Does glucosamine reduce joint pain?
Large scale randomized controlled trials in more than 200 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip that compared glucosamine, chondroitin, or their combination with placebo or head to head, demonstrated that glucosamine, chondroitin, and their combination do not reduce joint pain or have no impact on narrowing of joint space (91). In a double blind study of glucosamine/ chondroitin versus placebo, after 2 years, the joint space width loss in the placebo group was 0.166 mm which was not different from the treatment group. However, in mild knee OA (K/G grade 2) a trend toward improvement was observed compared with placebo group (92). In patients with symptomatic knee OA, these drugs may have structure-modifyng effects with dosage of 1500 mg/day. In a few studies, treatment with glucosamine and /or chondroitin sulfate provided symptomatic benefit in patients with knee OA. However, treatment should be discontinued if no response was observed within six months.
What is knee osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is typically the result of wear and tear and progressive loss of articular cartilage. It is most common in elderly people and can be divided into two types, primary and secondary:
What is the result of disruption in the equilibrium?
Disruption in the equilibrium which results in the disorganised pattern of collagen, and loss of articular cartilage elasticity.
Which type of cartilage is affected by osteoarthritis?
The process of osteoarthritis affects the articular carti lage (mainly type II) that covers the articular surfaces of bone.
How many articulations does the knee have?
The knee (art. genus) is a synovial joint, which consists of 2 articulations.
What is the best way to see cartilage?
MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Provides a view that offers better images of cartilage and other structures to detect early abnormalities typical of osteoarthritis.
What is the most common joint disease?
OA is the most common disease of the joints worldwide, with the knee being the most commonly affected joint in the body. It mainly affects people over the age of 45.
Why is my knee red?
Observation of the knee: it may be enlarged, swollen or red if the OA is very reactive or irritated.
How to treat knee pain from OA?
Incorporating exercise can be one of the most effective ways to treat your knee pain. Strengthening your muscles through exercise can lessen your pain and stiffness and greatly improve your range of motion. It can also slow the damage to your joints.
Can you know better than you are feeling?
When it comes to your symptoms and how you’re feeling, no one knows better than you do. A clear understanding of the symptoms you’re experiencing and their severity can go a long way in helping your doctor come up with a treatment plan.
Can surgery help with knee pain?
For some people, surgery is the only option to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. However, there are also several nonsurgical treatments and lifestyle changes that can bring relief.