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Understanding Arthritis in Knee: Everything You Need to Know About Knee Osteoarthritis

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Symptoms

Chronic pain is one of the many symptoms of arthritis of the knee. If you have knee arthritis, your symptoms can include the following:

• Gradually increasing pain during activities
• Swelling
• Crackling sounds
• Buckling and locking
• Limited range of motion
• Deformed knee
• Morning joint stiffness

Causes

Osteoarthritis can be classified as either primary or secondary. Primary osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease and is the most common form of arthritis. Secondary osteoarthritis often results from another disease, infection, injury, or deformity.

These are some of the most common causes and risk factors for knee arthritis:

• Heredity
• Aging
• Obesity
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Strenuous physical activities
• Past surgeries
• Other joint-related illnesses

Examining and Diagnosing Knee Arthritis

To diagnose knee arthritis, the doctor will perform a physical examination, a health history, lab work, and imaging.

Physical Examination

During the physical examination, your doctor will look for signs of swelling, tenderness, and deformity in the joint. The doctor will also check your knee’s range of motion and see if it hurts or feels stiff. Your doctor will also perform special tests to check for knee stability and eliminate other possible causes of knee pain.

Imaging Tests

The doctor will order X-rays to check for bone spurs or other signs of arthritis, such as loss of joint space. In addition, you may need an MRI or CT scan to better view your knee joint.

Laboratory Tests

Depending on your symptoms and family history, the doctor may order blood tests to check for inflammatory markers associated with arthritis. If necessary, the doctor may take a fluid sample from your knee joint and examine it under a microscope. Synovial fluid, or joint fluid, can show signs of infection or inflammation. If there is lab work, the doctor reviews the test results and makes a diagnosis.

Treatments

When treating knee arthritis, the goals are to relieve symptoms and to improve joint function, muscle strength, and quality of life. You and your doctor can decide on a combination of treatment options for the best results.

Nonsurgical

• Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Using support / Brace
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Weight loss
• Acupuncture

Therapeutic Injections

Corticosteroids

These types of anti-inflammatory medication can reduce swelling and pain in the knee. Despite the fact that they can provide short-term relief from knee OA, they may not be a good long-term solution as steroid injections have been shown to be ineffective and cause further destruction of knee cartilage, among other side effects.

Hyaluronic Acid

A substance that already exists in the joints, it provides lubrication and cushions the joint, reducing pain and improving mobility. However, recent studies have shown they may have mixed results and also that they have better results when combined with PRP.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) 

PRP injections are made from concentrated platelets from a patient’s own blood. Platelets release growth factors that may reduce swelling and stimulate repair within the joint. Compared to other therapeutic injections, they have been shown to have fewer side effects and longer-lasting outcomes. How PRP is injected is crucial for the best clinical outcomes. PRP placement requires image-guided injections. Blind injections are substandard because there is no assurance of the PRP getting into the damaged tissue.

Regenexx offers Regenexx SCP, a proprietary formulation of PRP that’s more concentrated than what non-Regenexx providers achieve.

Surgical Procedures

Surgery can be an effective last-resort treatment for severe knee OA, particularly in cases where other more conservative treatments have not been successful. The most common surgical procedures are:

• Arthroscopic surgery to examine the knee joint
• Osteotomy, or cutting of bone in the knee
• Partial knee replacement
• Total knee replacement
• Cartilage implantation or transplantation
• Synovectomy or removal of joint fluid

However, surgery may not be the best solution for all individuals with knee OA for several reasons:

• Like any surgical procedure, knee surgery carries some risks, including infection, bleeding, blood clots, and anesthesia complications.
  
• It can take several weeks (or even months) for someone to recover from knee surgery, during which time they may experience pain, swelling, and limited mobility.
  
• While knee surgery may alleviate some symptoms of knee OA, it is not always a cure. Knee replacement surgery, for example, involves removing the damaged joint and replacing it with an artificial joint. However, even after surgery, almost half of the patients experience residual pain or limited mobility.
  
• The cost of knee surgery can be high, and not all insurance plans cover it fully.

What Can You Do to Help Prevent Knee Arthritis?

With healthy lifestyle changes, you can prevent knee arthritis or slow the progression of the disease.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Obesity is a risk factor for knee OA because excess weight puts extra stress on the knees. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight lowers your risk of getting the disease.

Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise can help strengthen the muscles around the knee joint and improve flexibility. Low-impact activities like walking, biking, and swimming can help reduce your risk of knee OA symptoms.

Help Reduce Inflammation

Eating anti-inflammatory foods as part of a balanced diet can help prevent or reduce inflammation. Consuming fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants is essential. In addition, supplements like omega-3 fish oil, turmeric, and curcumin have anti-inflammatory properties and are available without a prescription.

FAQs

This page was written by Kimberly Madison, R.N.
Last reviewed by a Regenexx medical professional on 05/22/2023.