Arthritis is a disease which causes pain and damage to the body’s joints. Any joint can be affected, and all will cause different quality of life issues. One of the problems that affects many sufferers is arthritis knee pain. There are different causes for this pain depending on the type of arthritis that you have.
The knee is made up of three bones. It is located where the bottom of the femur and the top of the tibia meet. It is protected in the front by a bone known as the patella, or kneecap. There are a number of tendons and ligaments which hold the bones in the proper alignment and allow the bones to hinge properly. There is also cartilage which is located on the bones and under the kneecap that cushions the joint and prevents damage to the leg bones. A tissue pad called the meniscus also helps cushion the joint.
There are two main types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is more common in older people. This is because over time, repeated use of the joint can cause cartilage to wear away. The ends of the bones can become jagged and uneven, increasing pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the meniscus and the cartilage to become inflamed and this leads to pain and stiffness.
There are a few different ways that you can treat knee pain that comes from arthritis. There are anti-inflammatory medications, pain relievers and supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin that are designed to support and repair cartilage. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, there are oral medications which are designed to modify the way the disease is affecting you. They include methotrexate. Gold therapy is also used although this is much less common now that safer drug alternatives have been discovered.
You may find that if your knees are the only joints affected, the pain may be a result of a knee injury that was improperly diagnosed or treated. If you speak with your doctor, they can perform tests such as x-rays in order to check the state of the knee. If damaged cartilage is suspected, the doctor may perform a scope to check the cartilage in the knees. It can be repaired or removed if it is damaged. You want to make sure that full joint replacement is a treatment of last resort because of the length of time it takes to recover.
You can also try some of the topical products that are on the market. There are a number of effective creams and lotions available. They have different active ingredients and some work by cooling the joint. Others work by heating the joint gently. Your doctor can tell you which products are better for your particular situation. It may be tempting to stop using the joint but you need to make sure that you don’t do this. It will only make the joint stiff and unusable. You may want to consider exercises such as swimming that use the joint but do not put weight on them. Physiotherapy is also a good alternative for you to explore.
Treating arthritic knee pain does not have to be difficult but it may take trying several products before you find the ones which work best for you. Talking to a doctor or pharmacist can be a great first step to getting you on the road to recovery.
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