Have you ever experienced knee pain that makes it difficult to move? Knee pain that worsens with every movement or activity, which you might initially think is just fatigue from overuse or simply due to aging.

But in reality, these symptoms may stem from the early stages of osteoarthritis, which affects how you walk or move your legs in the long term.

Common symptoms

Chronic knee pain

Pain or tenderness in the knee joint during movement, such as walking up or down stairs, sitting cross-legged, or squatting. In some cases, the knee may feel stiff or painful immediately after these activities.

Symptoms worsen with increased knee use, such as prolonged walking or continuous knee strain. Symptoms usually improve with rest.

Stiff, tight, rigid knee

In the early stages of knee osteoarthritis, patients often experience stiffness or difficulty moving their knees, especially in the morning after waking up or after sitting for long periods of time performing activities that strain the knees. They may then need to stretch or bend their knees to gradually improve their range of motion.

My knees hurt

A tingling or sharp pain in the knee joint while walking or during frequent movement may be due to defects in the knee's components, such as a loose knee joint or inflammation in the thigh muscles.

Swelling, heat, tenderness to the touch.

When the knee becomes inflamed due to degeneration or injury, patients will feel swelling or warmth in the knee joint. Sometimes, there will be tenderness to the touch of the knee or the swelling may worsen. Pressing on the knee will immediately cause pain.

Causes of this symptom

Increasing age

As we age, the articular cartilage, muscles, and nerves in the knee joint deteriorate. The cartilage in the knee loses its elasticity and ability to absorb pressure, which is a major cause of osteoarthritis in older adults.

sex

Osteoarthritis of the knee is 2-3 times more common in women than men due to a lack of estrogen, a hormone that helps protect the cartilage in the knee joint. This hormone level decreases especially after menopause, making women more susceptible to knee osteoarthritis.

congenital

Genetics plays a role in the development of osteoarthritis of the knee. If someone in your family or relatives has this disease, your chances of developing osteoarthritis of the knee will be higher.

Overweight

People who are overweight or obese have a higher chance of developing osteoarthritis of the knee sooner than normal. Increased weight puts pressure on the knee joint, and excess fat cells also affect cartilage and bone cells, leading to faster knee degeneration.

Excessive use

Improper use of the legs and knees, or maintaining inappropriate postures for extended periods, such as prolonged standing, lifting heavy objects, frequently climbing stairs, or activities that put excessive pressure on the knees, will accelerate knee degeneration.

Treatment and diagnostic guidelines.

At S Hospital, a specialized spine and joint hospital, we prioritize finding the root cause of symptoms. Using X-ray and MRI machines, our specialized physicians can diagnose and plan treatment tailored to the severity of each patient's condition.

Early treatment for knee osteoarthritis can begin with non-surgical methods such as using anti-inflammatory medications and joint supplements, along with physical therapy to strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee. If the condition worsens, injections of hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can help regenerate the knee and reduce pain, improving mobility.