Question 1

What is knee arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Knee arthritis is when the hard bone tissue that forms the structure of your knee, and the rubbery cartilage that lines the knee bones, suffers damage and starts wearing away. Normally, the cartilage is smooth, allowing the bones (including the patella or kneecap) to slide past one another with minimal friction as your body moves. This motion is essential for a wide range of activities in daily life. However, when you have knee arthritis, a condition often referred to as knee osteoarthritis, changes occur in the cartilage that makes it rough, and the joint may grind, crack, or pop with movement.The most common symptoms of knee arthritis include pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee. It often causes a dull, aching pain that feels worse when you’re active, resulting in difficulty walking. Sometimes, the pain is sharp and it may be difficult to put weight on the leg, with patients reporting their knee giving out without warning or even locking up. This can lead to a level of disability in extreme cases.As opposed to most health conditions, there is no cure for knee arthritis. However, you can treat joint pain and stiffness with rest, ice, compression, elevation, and OTC pain relievers. Knee replacement surgery may be recommended when the arthritis is severe and all other treatments haven’t worked. This involves creating a new artificial joint with metal and plastic components, replacing the damaged space inside the knee.

Question 2

What are the symptoms of knee arthritis?Main symptoms

Accepted Answer

Knee arthritis can cause knee pain, swelling, and stiffness. Symptoms usually start off mild and slowly worsen, but sometimes they happen suddenly. They may come and go, affecting the normal life of patients with periods of time when they may not have any symptoms.A buildup of fluid inside the knee, referred to as an effusion or “water-on-the-knee,” can result in the knee swelling and limiting its movement. Arthritis can also cause injuries to the muscles around the knee, like the quadriceps (thigh) muscle, leading to weakening.The muscles at the back of the knee (hamstrings) may tighten and stop the knee from fully straightening. If the arthritis is severe, the knee may become bowed or knock-kneed as the cartilage wears away unevenly.Pain (usually dull and aching but can be sharp and severe)SwellingStiffness (hard to fully bend and straighten)Cracking, popping, grinding when movingBowing or knock-kneed deformityBuckling, "knee giving out", and instability in the kneeDifficulty walkingLocking of the knee

Question 3

What are the causes of knee arthritis?

Accepted Answer

Knee arthritis may not have a direct cause outside of normal wear and tear. However, certain risk factors increase the chances of developing arthritis, including:Genetics (inherited)Prior injury or injuries to the kneePrevious knee surgeryWear-and-tear from strenuous activityBeing overweightAutoimmune disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis)

Question 4

Is walking good for arthritis in the knee?

Accepted Answer

Walking, a low-impact exercise, keeps arthritic joints from becoming too stiff while helping maintain your body's strength and condition. Other low-impact activities, like riding a bike (stationary or road) and swimming, can help you stay active without exerting too much pressure on the knee.Being active will not necessarily inflict further damage on the joint or accelerate the progress of arthritis. But a good rule of thumb is: If it hurts, don’t do it.

Question 5

Why does it feel like my knee is locking?

Accepted Answer

Your knee locking is a symptom of the cartilage in the knee "catching" on itself as your knee is flexing and/or extending. The cartilage tissue changes significantly as a result of osteoarthritis. Sometimes, a flap can actually tear and hang in the knee joint space. When your knee is moving, the damaged cartilage covering one bone can hook onto the cartilage of the other bone, causing momentary resistance and the feeling of locking. This can often also explain the sensation of the knee giving out.