Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects the knee.

Osteoarthritis is a disease of hyaline cartilage, the tough gristle that caps the ends of long bones. Risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis include a strong family history, trauma, or any number of metabolic conditions that predisposes a person to early cartilage damage.

Osteoarthritis is a complex disease characterized by a change in structure of cartilage over time so that the primary components of cartilage including, water, collagen, and proteoglycans become unbalanced. In addition, cells within cartilage, called chondrocytes begin to produce destructive enzymes. At the same time, a strong inflammatory component also exists. The inflammation appears early in the joint capsule- the synovial tissue- but also affects the chondrocytes.This soon becomes a vicious self-perpetuating cycle.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee include:

– Pain

– Swelling

– Catching/Popping

– Give way

– Weakness

– Stiffness

– Night pain

– Deformity

Osteoarthritis of the knee does not produce systemic symptoms since it is not a systemic form of arthritis. The diagnosis is based on symptoms as well as physical examination.

Standing knee x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are also helpful in establishing the severity of disease.

Unfortunately, treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee is still relatively unsatisfactory.

Current treatment of osteoarthritis is divided into three categories: non-medicine, medicine, and surgical alternatives.

Among the non-medicine options include weight loss, patient education, and exercise.

Weight loss is key because of two factors,. The first is the mechanical load situation,. Each extra pound a person carries translates into five extra pounds a weight-bearing joint, like the knee, sees.

In addition, adipocytes (fat cells) produce inflammatory cytokines, proteins that aggravate inflammation. As a result, an obese person is carrying around an inflammation-producing machine.

Patient education is important so that a person knows what he or she can and cannot do to maintain the health of their knees.

Exercise is critical.

Non-impact exercises such as cycling, swimming, and using an elliptical can help with weight loss and also build strength.

Strengthening muscles like the quadriceps, the core, and hip abductors/flexors can help relieve the symptoms of arthritis in the knee.

For some patients, assistive devices such as canes, knee braces, and walkers can aid in ambulation.

Medication alternatives include natural supplements such as glucosamine/ chondroitin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and joint injections with glucocorticoid or hyaluronic acid. These injections should be administered using ultrasound guidance to ensure accurate placement.

Surgical alternatives include the following:

– Partial knee replacement surgery is a minimally-invasive procedure that removes damaged cartilage from the knee and replaces them with implants

– Total knee replacement surgery is a major procedure that removes the entire damaged joint surface and replaces it with a metal and plastic implant

A fourth alternative is a guided mesenchymal stem cell procedure. This is a technique using both ultrasound and arthroscopic guidance to place a patient’s own stem cells in the area of cartilage damage that has undergone special preparation. This has shown to be a promising therapy that avoids the need for knee replacement for many patients.

Nathan Wei, MD FACP FACR is a board-certified rheumatologist and nationally known arthritis authority and expert. For more info: Arthritis Treatment and Arthritis Treatment Center

Nathan Wei, MD FACP FACR is a board-certified rheumatologist and nationally known arthritis authority and expert. For more info: http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/arthritis-treatment.html Arthritis Treatment and Arthritis Treatment Center

Author Bio: Nathan Wei, MD FACP FACR is a board-certified rheumatologist and nationally known arthritis authority and expert. For more info: Arthritis Treatment and Arthritis Treatment Center

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: osteoarthritis, injections, NSAIDS, OA, arthritis treatment, stem cells, osteoarthritis treatment