Knee Pain and Loss of Knee Function
Knee pain is usually caused by arthritis. There are three common types of arthritis: rheumatoid, traumatic, and osteoarthritis.
A serious injury can bring on traumatic arthritis. If ligaments are torn or the knee is fractured, it can cause damage to articular cartilage which will only worsen with time. Of course, this is painful and affects the knees ability to function.
If the synovial membrane of the knee produces too much synovial fluid, it will over-fill the joint space. The fluid will thicken and become inflamed, and it will damage the knees cartilage. This will cause stiffness and pain and a breakdown of the cartilage. This is rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis: When the cushion of cartilage in the knee wears out, it leaves bone against bone. This is quite painful and causes knees to stiffen badly. This condition is usually seen in people who are over the age of 50. It is even more prevalent in people whose family has a history of osteoarthritis.
Is Knee Replacement The Solution?
Talk over all your options with your family and your doctor. If it seems total knee replacement surgery may be a good idea for you, your doctor will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon, who can give you all the details about surgery and other options. Once you are fully informed, you can make a confident choice.
Click here for more on diagnosing knee pain .
Total knee replacement is often the best choice for the following reasons:
You have tried other treatments (cortisone injections, physical therapy, alternate surgery, etc.) without success.
You cannot perform normal activities of daily living (walking, stair climbing, sitting down or rising from a chair) and/or you must use a cane or walker to get around.
Symptoms That Indicate a Need For Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Stiff knee joints that will not straighten or bend.
Pain in your knee(s) while at rest.
Bowed knees or any other deformity.
Loss of responsiveness to pain relievers. Note that non-steroidal pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen may be very effective for the early stages of arthritis. However, as the condition worsens, effectiveness may dwindle.
Continued inflammation and swelling of the knee(s) even after rest and treatment with medication.
It is important to understand that medications can generally lose effectiveness over time. Additionally, if you take a medication for a long time, you may develop a resistance to it or have a reaction to it. Furthermore, as your arthritis gets worse, your medications just may not be strong enough to manage the pain. - 17268
A serious injury can bring on traumatic arthritis. If ligaments are torn or the knee is fractured, it can cause damage to articular cartilage which will only worsen with time. Of course, this is painful and affects the knees ability to function.
If the synovial membrane of the knee produces too much synovial fluid, it will over-fill the joint space. The fluid will thicken and become inflamed, and it will damage the knees cartilage. This will cause stiffness and pain and a breakdown of the cartilage. This is rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis: When the cushion of cartilage in the knee wears out, it leaves bone against bone. This is quite painful and causes knees to stiffen badly. This condition is usually seen in people who are over the age of 50. It is even more prevalent in people whose family has a history of osteoarthritis.
Is Knee Replacement The Solution?
Talk over all your options with your family and your doctor. If it seems total knee replacement surgery may be a good idea for you, your doctor will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon, who can give you all the details about surgery and other options. Once you are fully informed, you can make a confident choice.
Click here for more on diagnosing knee pain .
Total knee replacement is often the best choice for the following reasons:
You have tried other treatments (cortisone injections, physical therapy, alternate surgery, etc.) without success.
You cannot perform normal activities of daily living (walking, stair climbing, sitting down or rising from a chair) and/or you must use a cane or walker to get around.
Symptoms That Indicate a Need For Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Stiff knee joints that will not straighten or bend.
Pain in your knee(s) while at rest.
Bowed knees or any other deformity.
Loss of responsiveness to pain relievers. Note that non-steroidal pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen may be very effective for the early stages of arthritis. However, as the condition worsens, effectiveness may dwindle.
Continued inflammation and swelling of the knee(s) even after rest and treatment with medication.
It is important to understand that medications can generally lose effectiveness over time. Additionally, if you take a medication for a long time, you may develop a resistance to it or have a reaction to it. Furthermore, as your arthritis gets worse, your medications just may not be strong enough to manage the pain. - 17268
About the Author:
Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with over 20 years specializing in knee surgery. He opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, with a focus on specialty patient care. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, knee surgery and partial knee.
posted by X - Men at
8:04 AM
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