Arthritis pain can range from annoying and unpleasant to completely debilitating and life disrupting. When arthritis affects your knee joint, it can seriously impact your everyday life. Simple tasks like rising up from a chair or walking can become painful, not to mention activities like running or riding a bike. Fortunately, there are steps you can take under the guidance of an orthopedic specialist to help alleviate arthritis pain in your knee.
Treatment for arthritis knee pain
If you experience arthritis pain in your knee joint, don’t assume surgery is imminent. You may have also seen commercials for gel injections that promise immediate pain relief — these are a viable option in some cases, but may not be the frontline course of treatment for your knee arthritis.
There are noninvasive courses of treatment that a fellowship trained orthopedist will likely prescribe first. An initial course of care will likely include physical therapy for arthritis. Physical therapy exercises can help reduce pain and inflammation by teaching you to move in ways that helps regain movement and range of motion and reduce pain in the affected joint.
In addition to physical therapy, your doctor may prescribe cortisone shots or gel injections. In rare cases, a surgery like joint replacement may be needed.
Arthritis pain relief is possible with the guidance of a orthopedic specialists who is trained in caring for for patients with the condition. Get help if knee pain is impacting your quality of life.
The knee joint
The knees have the distinction of being the largest joints in the human body. The knee is a complex conjunction of anatomical components, making it vulnerable to injuries and other problems, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The knee is comprised of:
- Bones
- Cartilage
- Ligaments
- Tendons
The knee can be affected by osteoarthritis, a condition in which the the cartilage at the intersection of the bones breaks down. The rubbing of bone on bone causes symptoms like pain, stiffness and loss of movement or range of motion in the knee joint. Among the joints in the body, the knee is one that osteoarthritis most commonly affects, according to the Arthritis Foundation.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the knee. This kind of arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition when the immune system attacks the membrane that lines the joint. Symptoms include:
- Pain
- Swelling and inflamation
- Loss of knee function
- Total disability
If you suspect you have either of these conditions, talk to an orthopedic specialist about a treatment plan. There are many courses of care that can reduce pain, improve joint function and raise your quality of life.
