How to treat osteoarthritis of the knee

Osteoarthritis can be a dehabilitating condition. It is also known as degenerative arthritis and affects the main joints in the body including the spine, hands hips and the knee. This causes pain and difficulty in moving. This article explains how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee.

What is osteoarthritis?

What is osteoarthritis? This type of arthritis is caused by a degeneration of the cartilage in the joints. This material has a cushioning effect. When the bones are removed, they rub against each other. This causes pain, swelling and stiffness. What happens with osteoarthritis of the knee? In this type of arthritis in the knee, the cartilage becomes worn and thin. The tissues appear to work harder in an apparent attempt to repair themselves. In the knee, the fluid sacks that are supposed to be there can swell and produce more fluid than usual. This is known as water on the knee or fluid on the knee. The knee is the largest joint in the body and carries a great deal of weight .

Symptoms and treatment by a doctor

What are the symptoms? You may experience pain in the knee as well as swollen knees, excess fluid and restricted movement. You may also get a sensation of bone rubbing. This is what causes creaking noises. What can your doctor do? There is no known cure for arthritis. So, all the treatments are aimed at
symptom-control. The first line of attack in treating painful joints is pain killers. Simple painkillers such as paracetamol or more complex ones such as co-codamol or co-dydramol can be effective against painful joints. Anti-inflammatories such as naproxen, ibruprofen and diclofenac are often used. What else can work other than painkillers? Your doctor can inject steroids directly into the knee. This is a relief that can last for months. Knee replacements can also be considered. These are used when the knee has completely degenerated. They can last for up to 15 years.

Self-help

Weight If you are overweight, then you are adding more pressure as well as wearing and tearing your knees. So, losing weight can be beneficial in easing the pain. Eating a healthy diet can also help with slowing down the degeneration or easing the pressure slightly. The importance of exercise Gentle exercise is vital to help in strengthening the muscle around your knee. Your doctor can give you advice on the best exercises to do so as to help strengthen and support your knee. Heat and cold Applying heat pads or cold compresses can help to ease the pain. It can also help to reduce the swelling of artritic knees. What ever works best for you is the best option.