How to know if you have knee arthritis: 15 steps

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

According to experts who study and treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the most common signs of knee arthritis include pain, swelling and joint stiffness. According to research, there are two forms of arthritis, namely osteoarthritis (better known as osteoarthritis) and rheumatoid arthritis. The first is a degenerative alteration of the articular cartilage, while the second is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects the synovial membrane, or the inner lining of the joint capsule. If you suspect you have arthritis in your knees, you may be looking for a remedy to relieve your symptoms. Although in these cases it is preferable to consult your doctor, try to recognize the symptoms on your own.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Know if You Have Knee Arthritis

Step 1. Assess your risk factors

Depending on the form of arthritis, there are several factors that can affect its development. While some cannot be changed, there are others that can be worked on to reduce the risk of knee arthritis.

• Genetics: Genetic predisposition can make you more prone to certain forms of arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus). If a few cases have occurred in your family, the risk of developing the same condition is higher.
• Gender: Men are more prone to gout, a disease characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis due to a high level of uric acid in the blood, while women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
• Age: with the passing of the years there is a greater risk of developing this pathology.
• Obesity: Excess body weight puts stress on the knee joints and can increase the risk of suffering from arthritis.
• Joint injuries: Damage to the knee joints may be partially responsible for the development of osteoarthritis.
• Infections: Pathogens can infect joints and aggravate various types of arthritis.
• Work: Jobs that involve repeated bending of the knees and / or resorting to frequent squatting can increase the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.
• If you fall within one or more of the risk factors mentioned above, consult your doctor about the preventive measures to take (or read the section of the article on prevention).

Step 2. Recognize the symptoms

Common symptoms of knee arthritis include joint pain and stiffness. However, depending on the form (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis), others may also occur. To recognize them, look for any of the following symptoms:

• Pain that becomes acute with movement.
• Reduced or limited joint mobility.
• Joint stiffness.
• Swelling and tenderness of the affected joint.
• Feeling of joint failure.
• Tiredness and malaise (often associated with rheumatoid arthritis attacks).
• Low fever and chills (often associated with rheumatoid arthritis attacks).
• Deformation of the joint (knee valgus or knee varus), usually a symptom of advanced disease that occurs without treatment.

Step 3. Follow the evolution of the pain

Knee pain is not always a clear sign of arthritis. Usually the one caused by arthritis is felt inside the knee and, in some cases, in the front or back of the joint.

• Activities that put pressure on the joint, such as walking long distances, climbing stairs, or standing for a long time, can increase pain.
• In severe cases of knee arthritis, pain can also occur in a sitting or lying position.

Step 4. Evaluate joint mobility and stiffness

In addition to pain, arthritis also impairs the range of motion of the knee. Over time and due to friction between the bony surfaces, you may feel that the knee stiffens and its movement is restricted.

As the cartilage wears down at one point in the joint, you may see that the knee begins to arch inward or outward

Step 5. Watch out for swelling or crunches

In addition to pain, heat and redness, there is another common symptom of this disease that indicates an ongoing inflammatory process, namely swelling. Additionally, people with arthritis may actually feel a crackling sound or hear an internal creak.

Step 6. Note any changes or worsening of symptoms

Symptoms of arthritis can come on gradually and often progress as the inflammation worsens. By learning to recognize the pattern in which they occur, you will be able to distinguish them from other pains affecting the knees.

People with rheumatoid arthritis often complain of episodes, or actual attacks, in which the condition becomes worsening. During these flare-ups, symptoms worsen, peak, and then gradually subside

Step 7. Consult an orthopedist

If you have at least one of the above symptoms, see an orthopedist to find out if you have knee arthritis.

• The orthopedist will inspect the knee for swelling, redness and warmth and evaluate its mobility. If you suspect this condition is present, you may be ordered some of the following tests to confirm your diagnosis:

  • Laboratory tests to detect specific markers of arthritis in the blood, urine and / or synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is collected by aspiration by inserting a needle into the joint space.
  • Ultrasound to see soft tissue, cartilage, and joint space immersed in synovial fluid. Ultrasound of the knee can also be performed to guide the introduction of the needle that aspirates the synovial fluid.
  • X-ray to view cartilage wear, bone damage, and / or bone spur formation.
  • Computed tomography (CT) to view the bones of the knee. The images are acquired from different angles and then processed to represent cross sections of the internal structures.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to produce more detailed cross-sectional images of the soft tissues surrounding the knee, such as cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

  Part 2 of 3: Preventing Arthritis of the Knee

  

  Step 1. Get slim

  Weight loss is one of the main weapons in fighting arthritis, even though it is difficult for many people. By reducing the weight supported by the knees, it reduces the load and damage to the joints, but also the risk of osteoarthritis.

  

  Step 2. Edit your workout

  It may be that you need to limit the execution of certain exercises, so it can be useful to learn a new method of training to prevent or reduce the damage caused by arthritis.

  • Exercising in the water is a great option for those with knee problems.
  • Use a cane or crutch in the hand opposite the arthritis-affected knee to reduce pressure on the joint.

  

  Step 3. Take a joint supplement

  It is a product based on molecules produced naturally by the body, such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are important for the integrity of the joint cartilages.

  • Although it can keep pain at bay, it is now clear that it does not regenerate cartilage. Reliable studies have shown that these supplements do not bring any better benefits than the placebo effect, but they do not harm (if not to the wallet), so most orthopedists recommend trying them.
  • Some doctors recommend taking them for a period of three months to check if they are really effective.
  • Joint supplements must comply with current legislation on health and hygiene and have undergone the relevant controls. Consult your doctor before taking them.

  Part 3 of 3: Treating Arthritis of the Knee

  

  Step 1. Get physical therapy

  By strengthening the surrounding muscles, you can reduce the load on the knee. It is important to prevent muscle atrophy to preserve knee function and reduce further damage to the joint.

  

  Step 2. Take anti-inflammatories

  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, help manage knee pain and inflammation.

  • Always consult your doctor before treating arthritis with over-the-counter medicines, especially if you are taking other medications.
  • Take any medication at the recommended dosage, even if it is an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory. An overdose of NSAIDs can be extremely dangerous.

  

  Step 3. Undergo infiltration of hyaluronic acid

  Hyaluronic acid is a substance found in synovial fluid that helps lubricate the joint. If you suffer from arthritis, its quantity is reduced and it becomes less effective.

  • Your doctor may recommend hyaluronic acid infiltration (called viscosupplementation) into the knee joint.
  • While not a useful treatment for everyone, it can relieve symptoms for as long as 3-6 months.

  

  Step 4. Ask your doctor if you need to take corticosteroids or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

  There are some medications indicated for the treatment of arthritis. Consult your doctor if you can start this kind of treatment.

  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (such as methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine) slow or prevent the immune system from attacking the joints.
  • Biological drugs (such as etanercept and infliximab) act on various protein molecules involved in the immune response that affects arthritis.
  • Corticosteroids (such as prednisone and cortisone) relieve inflammation and suppress the immune system. They can be administered orally or injected directly into the injured joint.

  

  Step 5. Check with your doctor to find out if you need surgery

  If conservative therapies do not keep the pain caused by arthritis at bay or are not enough to prevent further damage, surgery, such as arthrodesis or arthroplasty, may be necessary.

  • During arthrodesis surgery, the surgeon reaches for the painful joint components and fuses them together so that, once healed, they form a rigid unit.
  • During arthroplasty, the surgeon removes the damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial structure.

  Advice

  • If you think you are experiencing the first signs of arthritis, see your doctor right away. Early treatment can change the course of some forms of this disease.
  • Treatment of knee arthritis should begin gradually and progress with increasingly complex treatments until surgery is eventually considered.
  • Not all treatments are suitable for every patient, so you should discuss these with your doctor to determine which ones are best suited to your needs.