Understanding Osteoarthritis: More Than Just "Knee Pain"

What is osteoarthritis of the knee?

Knee osteoarthritis is a disease caused by the degeneration of the cartilage on the surface of the knee joint. This cartilage plays a crucial role in absorbing shock and allowing smooth knee movement. As we age, or with heavy and continuous use of the knee, the once smooth cartilage thins and wears away. The synovial fluid that once lubricated the joint also decreases, causing direct friction between the bone and skin. This friction accumulates, leading to pain, stiffness, and discomfort in the knee. As the disease progresses to a severe stage, the degeneration spreads, causing joint deformity, collapse, and potentially loss of the ability to walk or move as before.

Causes of osteoarthritis of the knee.

The causes of knee osteoarthritis can be divided into two main groups based on the nature of the disease: primary osteoarthritis, which is found in older adults who have used their joints for a long time, and secondary osteoarthritis, which is more common in working-age people due to certain environmental factors that accelerate joint degeneration, such as accidents or diseases related to the knee.

One of the main causes is age. As we age, the once smooth joint cartilage thins, the synovial fluid decreases, and the muscles around the knee begin to weaken. These changes cause the joint to move less smoothly, leading to accumulated friction and ultimately pain.

Besides age, gender also plays a role, especially in women after menopause, when estrogen levels that previously protected the knee joints decrease, making them more susceptible to pressure and prone to faster degeneration than men.

Another important factor that is often overlooked is body weight. The heavier you are, the greater the pressure on the knee joint with every step. And when there is too much body fat, it stimulates the body to release inflammatory substances that accelerate joint cartilage degeneration.

What types of pain require immediate medical attention?

Although osteoarthritis of the knee may start with minor symptoms, if you experience chronic knee pain, especially while walking, climbing stairs, or after strenuous activity, limited range of motion in straightening or bending your knee, and a crackling sound in the joint during movement, these are warning signs that your knee is degenerating.

Treatment guidelines for osteoarthritis of the knee.

Doctors will assess the severity of the condition. In the early stages, they may recommend lifestyle modifications, weight management, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy. However, if symptoms begin to affect daily life, such as difficulty walking or increasing pain, intra-articular injections are another option to help repair worn-out tissue. In cases of severe knee osteoarthritis that do not respond to other methods, surgery is a suitable option, such as arthroscopic knee repair or total knee replacement. At S Spine & Joint Hospital, we use cutting-edge robotic surgery techniques to increase precision, allowing patients to recover and regain mobility faster.

Protect your knees before it's too late.

Although knee osteoarthritis may seem like an aging process, the truth is, it can be slowed down if taken care of early. Simply modifying risky behaviors and strengthening the muscles can help keep your knees strong and allow you to move confidently for a long time.

Although genetics is not the primary cause, a family history of osteoarthritis may increase the risk for other family members.

And finally, repetitive daily habits such as prolonged standing, incorrect sitting posture, lifting heavy objects, or frequently sitting cross-legged or in a lotus position all contribute to the knee joints receiving improper pressure, causing the joint cartilage to slowly wear down without us even realizing it.