The degenerative nature of arthritis means that the earlier you seek treatment, the better. As soon as you start noticing the symptoms of osteoarthritis, such as pain in the knees, swelling, or difficulty moving, it would be best if you saw a doctor for a diagnosis. Once the doctor establishes that you have osteoarthritis of the knees, you need to start treatment. Proposed remedies may include physical therapy, anti-inflammation and pain medication, posture training, and lifestyle changes. Read more about arthritis knee treatments here: https://sgbonedoctor.com/our-services/knee/osteoarthritis-of-the-knee/

In the following article, Garrett Hyman, MD, MPH, discusses the various treatments of the osteoarthritis of the knee, and how the severity of the condition influences the therapy to use.

Steps Followed in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis  

The earlier knee arthritis is treated, the more likely knee pain can be relieved and the less likely it will get worse. Knee arthritis treatment may include nonsurgical treatments, injections, and surgery. Typically, nonsurgical treatments are tried first. Surgery is not usually necessary and recommended only when other treatments have been tried and have not adequately relieved symptoms. Read more here

Once knee osteoarthritis is confirmed, doctors always recommend non-invasive treatments first. If the initial treatments don’t work, and surgery is the last resort. You may need to use multiple therapies for the best outcome. A change in lifestyle to manage your weight, medication and physical therapy are always utilized concurrently. If weight loss and physical therapy don’t alleviate the symptoms, therapeutic injections may become necessary.

In the following article, Jonathan Cluett, MD, discusses knee osteoarthritis treatment, including surgery.

Types of Surgery for Knee Osteoarthritis

Arthritis of the knee joint is one of the most common causes of knee pain. There are different types of arthritis that can affect the knee joint, and the treatment may vary depending on the specific condition that is causing the symptoms.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of knee arthritis.1 It is characterized by progressive wearing away of the cartilage in the joint. As the protective cartilage is worn away, bone is exposed, the knee becomes swollen, and activities become increasingly painful. Read more here

Surgery is usually the last resort when it comes to the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Even though doctors try to avoid invasive procedures, surgery is sometimes the only option left. Some operations, such as the knee arthroscopy and knee osteotomy, are minimally invasive. Knee replacement is a major and one of the most common orthopedic surgeries. During the knee replacement surgery, the damaged cartilage is removed, and an implant is inserted.

In the following Wikipedia article, osteoarthritis is looked at in detail, including the importance of education and lifestyle changes in the management of osteoarthritis.

How Your Lifestyle Impacts Your Recovery of Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone. The most common symptoms are joint pain and stiffness. Usually the symptoms progress slowly over years. Initially they may only occur after exercise, but can become constant over time. Other symptoms may include joint swelling, decreased range of motion, and, when the back is affected, weakness or numbness of the arms and legs. Read more here

Your lifestyle may have contributed to the wear and tear of your knees. Your involvement in strenuous physical activity, inactivity, or poor eating habits may quickly result in the systemic loss of cartilage in the knee joint. You should pay attention to your weight, and the rate at which you are piling on the pounds. If you are worried about your weight, you should be even more concerned if you start feeling the strain on your knees. If you are taking medication to help relieve the symptoms of arthritis, changing your lifestyle will help to reduce your drug usage.