How To Relieve Arthritic Knee Pain

Having arthritic knee pain can make everyday activities, such as walking or climbing up the stairs very difficult. Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis; however, there are many ways to relieve your arthritic knee pain. The longer you wait to address your knee pain and allow the pain to worsen, the higher the chance of having to visit an orthopedic surgeon Manhattan.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. While arthritis can affect any joint in the body, it is most common in the knee. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative type of arthritis caused by “wear and tear.” This is the most common type of arthritis in the knee and is typically seen in people ages 50 and older. With this condition, the cartilage in the knee joint begins to wear away, becoming frayed and rough. As a result, painful bone spurs are produced as the bone rubs against the bone. Over time, the pain will worsen. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that attacks the knee joint as well as other joints throughout the body. With this condition, the synovial membrane that covers the knee joint swells, causing pain and stiffness. It is also considered an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks its own tissue, which is cartilage and ligaments. This, in turn, softens the bone.

Symptoms

Arthritis in the knee is painful and tends to develop gradually over time. There are other symptoms besides pain which include:

The knee becomes stiff and swollen, which makes it difficult to bend and straighten.
After sitting, resting, or just after waking up in the morning, the pain and swelling main be worse.
Vigorous activity causes pain to flare up.
During movement of the knee, your knee way lock or stick, which causes a creaking, clicking, or snapping noise.
You may notice buckling or weakness in the knee.
Increase in joint pain with the change of weather.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis; there are different forms of treatment that can help to relieve the pain, both nonsurgical and surgical.

For nonsurgical treatment, your doctor might recommend the following treatment options:

Lifestyle Modifications: By making small changes to your everyday life, you can prevent and slow the progression of your arthritis. Such changes include minimizing activity that causes pain, avoiding high-impact activities, and losing weight to reduce stress on the joint.
Physical Therapy: Having a physical therapist walk you through exercises to increase your flexibility and range of motion and strengthen your leg muscles is another way to relieve the pain.
Medications: Many different drugs are useful in treating arthritic knee pain. Your doctor will help to determine the correct medication and dosage specific for you.

Your orthopedic surgeon Manhattan might recommend surgical treatment if your pain is not relieved with nonsurgical treatment. Some of the different types of procedures include:

Arthroscopy: This procedure is done if osteoarthritis has caused degenerative meniscus tears. Your orthopedic surgeon Manhattan will make a small incision in the knee and insert instruments to diagnose and treat joint problems.
Osteotomy: This is when the orthopedic surgeon Manhattan reshapes either the shinbone or the thigh bone to relieve pressure on the knee joint. This type of procedure is done in the early stages of osteoarthritis, where one side of the knee joint has been damaged. After this procedure, you will not feel as much pain, and you will improve the function of your knee.
Total or Partial Knee Replacement: The damaged cartilage and bone will be removed, and use a new metal or plastic joint to restore the function of your knee.

Recovery

There will always be a period of recovery after seeing an orthopedic surgeon Manhattan to repair your knee. Typically, the recovery and rehabilitation process involves physical therapy to regain strength and restore range of motion. Additionally, you may need to use crutches and wear a knee brace. Overall, once you have fully recovered, you will no longer feel the pain from the past, and you will be able to perform everyday tasks pain-free.

Contact Us

If you are suffering from arthritic knee pain, contact our team at New York Sports Medicine Institute. We have many orthopedic surgeon Manhattan that provides highly specialized treatment. Schedule an appointment with us if you want to get rid of your arthritic knee pain!