Knee Arthritis and Joint Pain
The Knee
The knee is a joint, and is a place where bones come together in the body. Although some joints, like the ones in your skull, simply connect the bones like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and don't move, the knee is a hinge- like joint designed to facilitate movement and bear weight.
The knee joint connects the upper and lower portions of the leg and allows it to bend and straighten - and even rotate inward and outward a little bit.
Arthritis and Joint Pain of the Knee
Arthritis is the name given to a group of diseases that cause joint pain or inflammation, limit movement or otherwise harm the joints.There are many types of arthritis, including:
- Osteoarthritis, a "localized" disease that may strike one joint or many
- Rheumatoid arthritis, a body-wide disease that can attack various organs as well as multiple joints
- Gout, which often targets the large toe, causing very painful swelling
- Infectious arthritis, in which bacteria, viruses or fungi settle into a joint and trigger pain, swelling and/or stiffness
- Psoriatic arthritis, which is linked to the skin disease psoriasis
Depending on the definition used, arthritis includes up to100 diseases that attack the joints. Some types of the disease respond well to treatment, others do not; some are self-limiting while others become progressively worse; some strike youngsters while others target people in their middle or senior years.
All forms of arthritis, however, have something in common:they cause pain, swelling, movement limitation or other problems with one or more joints.
Types of Arthritis of the Knee
When arthritis attacks the knee, the results may range from annoying to crippling, depending on the type of arthritis and the severity. As for treatment, it can run the gamut from an occasional aspirin and a bit of physical therapy, supplements, to total knee replacement surgery.
The three major types of knee arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoidarthritis, and post-injury arthritis.
1. Osteoarthritis of the Knee
The most common form of knee arthritis, osteoarthritis of the knee is typically a slowly progressing degenerative disease characterized by breakdown of the cartilage. Over the course of months or years, the cushioning cartilage dries out and becomes brittle, "flattens" and wears away. Without moist, healthy cartilage to absorb shock, the bones will berattled and jarred each time you stomp, step or even tiptoe. The bone ends,which should not quite touch within the joint capsule, can make contact and grind away at each other. Tiny fractures may arise in the bones or the bone ends may literally wear away as they grind against each other over time.
It's not known exactly why the cartilage breaks down.Metabolic problems may be to blame: perhaps the body's normal processes of breaking down old tissues and rebuilding them goes haywire, causing destruction of healthy cartilage faster than it can be replaced. It could be the result of repetitive motion - that is, using the knee over and over again, in the same way, day after day and year after year.
Excess weight is particularly harmful to the knees. For every ten extra pounds you pack on; the force exerted on your knee can increase by 30 - 60 pounds! Or arthritis may result from an injury
It's impossible to say with certainly who will develop osteoarthritis of the knee, but we do know that the odds of developing osteoarthritis rise if you are over the age or 40, female, overweight, have had a knee injury, have subjected your knees to repetitive stress at work or play,or your parents had osteoarthritis.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a case of the immune system going wild and attacking the body: it mistakes healthy body tissue for a foreign invader and sets out to destroy it.
Rheumatoid arthritis attacks "both sides" of the body at once; that is, both wrists, both elbows, both knees and so on. And, a sa body-wide problem, it doesn't limit its destruction to the joints, assaulting the heart, lungs, blood vessels, eyes and other organs, with symptoms depending on the targeted tissues.
Joint pain and inflammation are typical early signs of rheumatoid arthritis. Others include joint swelling, loss of joint mobility,pea-shaped bumps under the skin (rheumatoid nodules), a general feeling of sickness, aching, stiffness, fatigue and weakness.
3. Post-Injury Arthritis
Injuries can set the stage for arthritis of the knee in various ways. For example, a serious injury may directly damage cartilage or tear ligaments which do not heal properly and lead to joint misalignment and exacerbated wear and tear. The injury may even take the form of a tiny bone fracture, which doesn't cause significant pain at first but sets the stage for trouble down the road.
Arthritis of the Knee - Symptoms
The symptoms you experience may be influenced by the weather, time of day, what you're doing, and even the phase of a female monthly cycle.
Weather- Many people report that changes in the weather affect the degree of discomfort from osteoarthritis of the knee. Cold and damp weather in particular seems to bring on aches, pains and other symptoms of arthritis. On the other hand, warmer temperatures tend to have a therapeutic effect on joint pain.
Time of day- Not moving the knee for a period of time (say, while you're sleeping) may cause the knee to become stiff and swollen, which is why some people have difficulty bending or straightening the knee when they wake up in the morning.
Activity- Pain and swelling in the knee may grow worse after periods of increase dactivity, such as walking, stair climbing, or kneeling in the garden for extended periods.
Treatments and Supplements for Arthritis of the Knee
Depending on the type and severity of arthritis, treatment scan range from the simple to the complex. Some treatments are designed just to relieve symptoms; others are designed to eliminate aggravating factors, stop the arthritis process, encourage the body to repair damage to the joint, or even replace the damaged joint entirely.
Rest and Arthritis of the Knee
For some forms of arthritis of the knee, especially those in the early stages, rest may temporarily relieve symptoms such as pain and swelling. In addition, you can also try the following:
- Apply ice to the knee every hour for up to 15 minutes. After the first day, apply it at least 4 times per day.
- Keep your knee elevated as much as possible to relieve swelling.
- Gently compress the knee by wearing an ace bandage or elastic sleeve to reduce swelling and stabilize the knee joint.
- Sleep with a pillow underneath or between the knees.
Exercise and Caring for the Knee
Some people shy away from exercise, fearing it will hurt their knees even more and cause more pain. But exercise is an important part of any knee strengthening and rehabilitation program.
Benefits of knee exercise:
- Increase circulation to the knee joint, which will provide nourishment to the cartilage and aid in the control of inflammation
- Maintain or increase knee joint flexibility
- Strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding the knee joint so these structures can absorb some of the shock and help keep the knee joint stable and properly aligned
Your exercise program may include activities such as bicycling or weight training to strengthen the muscles above and below the knee; yoga to improve flexibility: and tai chi to improve balance. You might also consider switching from one kind of aerobic exercise to another - for example, from running to swimming - in order to take pressure off your knee while you continue to get a good cardiovascular workout.