What Is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. So the answer is YES, osteoarthritis of the knee is degenerative. When this happens, the bones of the joints rub more closely against one another with less of the shock-absorbing benefits of cartilage. The rubbing results in pain, swelling, stiffness, decreased ability to move and, sometimes, the formation of bone spurs.

Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Affected joints might hurt during or after movement.
• Joint stiffness might be most noticeable upon awakening or after being inactive.
• Your joint might feel tender when you apply light pressure to or near it.
• Loss of flexibility.You might not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.
• Grating sensation.You might feel a grating sensation when you use the joint, and you might hear popping or crackling.
• Bone spurs.These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, can form around the affected joint.
• This might be caused by soft tissue inflammation around the joint.

  Who would be susceptible to Osteoarthritis of the Knee?

  Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. While it can occur even in young people, the chance of developing osteoarthritis rises after age 45. According to popular statistics, osteoarthritis of the the knee is one of the most commonly affected areas. Women are more likely to have osteoarthritis than men.

  What are the Causes of Knee Osteoarthritis?

  

  The most common cause of osteoarthritis of the knee is age. Almost everyone will eventually develop some degree of osteoarthritis. However, several factors increase the risk of developing significant arthritis at an earlier age.

  Age. The ability of cartilage to heal decreases as a person gets older.

  Weight. Weight increases pressure on all the joints, especially the knees. Every kg of weight you gain adds 3 to 4 kg’s of extra weight on your knees.

  Heredity. This includes genetic mutations that might make a person more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee. It may also be due to inherited abnormalities in the shape of the bones that surround the knee joint.

  Gender. Women ages 55 and older are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis of the knee.

  Repetitive stress injuries. These are usually a result of the type of job a person has. People with certain occupations that include a lot of activity that can stress the joint, such as kneeling, squatting, or lifting heavy weights (55 pounds or more), are more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee because of the constant pressure on the joint.

  Athletics. Athletes involved in soccer, tennis, or long-distance running may be at higher risk for developing osteoarthritis of the knee. That means athletes should take precautions to avoid injury. However, it’s important to note that regular moderate exercise strengthens joints and can decrease the risk of osteoarthritis. In fact, weak muscles around the knee can lead to osteoarthritis.

  Other illnesses. People with rheumatoid arthritis, the second most common type of arthritis, are also more likely to develop osteoarthritis. People with certain metabolic disorders, such as iron overload or excess growth hormone, also run a higher risk of osteoarthritis.

  Is Surgery Used to Treat Knee Osteoarthritis?

  If your doctor wants to treat the osteoarthritis in the knee with surgery, the options are arthroscopy, osteotomy, and arthroplasty.

  Arthroscopy uses a small telescope (arthroscope) and other small instruments. The surgery is performed through small incisions. The surgeon uses the arthroscope to see into the joint space. Once there, the surgeon can remove damaged cartilage or loose particles, clean the bone surface, and repair other types of tissue if those damages are discovered. The procedure is often used on younger patients ( ages 55 and younger) in order to delay more serious surgery.

  An osteotomy is a procedure that aims to make the knee alignment better by changing the shape of the bones. This type of surgery may be recommended if you have damage primarily in one area of the knee. It might also be recommended if you have broken your knee and it has not healed well. An osteotomy is not permanent, and further surgery may be necessary later on.

  Joint replacement surgery, or arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which joints are replaced with artificial parts made from metals or plastic. The replacement could involve one side of the knee or the entire knee. Joint replacement surgery is usually reserved for people over age 50 with severe osteoarthritis. The surgery may need to be repeated later if the prosthetic joint wears out after several years. But with today’s modern advancements, most new joints will last over 20 years. The surgery has risks, but the results are generally very good.

  REF: https://www.webmd.com/