Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Know if you have knee arthritis.
• Method 2 of 3: Prevent knee arthritis
• Method 3 of 3: Treat knee arthritis
• Tips

Arthritis in the knee is caused by inflammation and wear and tear on one or more of the compartments of the knee joint. Arthritis can be divided into different forms depending on the cause; Osteoarthritis is caused by progressive wear and tear of the cartilage that covers the ends of your bones, and rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the lining of the joints. Other forms of arthritis can be caused by infections, underlying diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus), or by a build-up of uric acid crystals. To find out if you have knee arthritis, you need to learn to recognize the signs and symptoms that often accompany the condition.

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Method 1 of 3: Know if you have knee arthritis.

1. Estimate the risk. Depending on the type of arthritis, there are several factors that can predispose you to knee arthritis. While you can't do about some of these factors, there are others you can change to reduce your risk of knee arthritis.
   • Genes. Your genetic background can make you more susceptible to certain types of arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus). If arthritis runs in a family, you may be more likely to get arthritis in the knee.
   • Sex. Men are more likely to develop gout, a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood, while women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
   • Age. You're more likely to get arthritis as you get older.
   • Obesity. Being overweight puts more stress on your knee joints, increasing your risk of arthritis.
   • A history of knee injuries. Damage to the knee joint can be partly responsible for developing osteoarthritis.
   • Inflammation. Bacteria can inflame joints, causing various types of arthritis.
   • Profession. Certain jobs that require repetitive squats or squats increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis.
   • If any of the risk factors apply to you, talk to your doctor about whether you should take precautions (or read the prevention section below).
2. Recognize the symptoms of knee arthritis. The most common symptoms of knee arthritis are joint pain and stiffness of the knee. However, depending on the type of arthritis (for example, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis), you can also experience all kinds of other symptoms. To spot the signs of arthritis, look for any of the following symptoms:
   • Pain that gets worse with activity.
   • Less ability to move.
   • Stiffness of the knee.
   • Swelling and tenderness of the knee joint.
   • A feeling that the joint is about to give way.
   • Fatigue and a generally ill feeling (often during a flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis).
   • Low fever and chills (often during a rheumatoid arthritis flare-up).
   • Joint deformity (x-legs or bow-legs) is usually an advanced symptom if the arthritis is not treated.
3. Keep track of the pain. If your knees hurt, it doesn't necessarily mean you have arthritis. Arthritis is usually felt on the inside of the knee, and in some cases on the front or back of the knee.
   • Activities that put stress on the knees, such as walking for a long time, climbing stairs, or standing for extended periods of time, can make arthritis pain worse.
   • In cases of severe arthritis in the knee, the pain can also occur when you are sitting or lying down.
4. Assess how well you can move your knee and whether it is stiff. In addition to pain, arthritis also limits the range of motion of your knee. Over time, and as the surfaces of the bones become less smooth, the knee becomes stiff and it is more difficult to move it.
   • Since the cartilage wears down on one side of the knee, you can get x or o legs.
5. Watch for swelling or cracking. Swelling is another sign of inflammation (in addition to pain, warmth, and redness), and it is a known symptom of knee arthritis. In addition, people with knee arthritis may hear a clicking or creaking noise when they move the knee.
6. Notice if the symptoms change or get worse. Arthritis symptoms can slowly get worse. Knowing the patterns of arthritis can help you recognize the difference from other knee conditions.
   • People with rheumatoid arthritis often experience periods of worsening their condition, known as a flare-up. During this time, symptoms worsen, peak and then slowly subside.
7. Seek medical attention. If you experience any of the above symptoms, see your doctor to see if you have arthritis or not.
   • Your doctor can check your knee for swelling, redness, and warmth, and assess whether your range of motion is limited. If the doctor suspects you have arthritis, he / she may order the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:
     • Laboratory tests to show markers of arthritis in your blood, urine and / or synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is collected by inserting a needle into the space between the joints.
     • An ultrasound to examine the soft tissues, cartilage and the areas containing the synovial fluid. An ultrasound may also be necessary to correctly insert the needle if synovial fluid needs to be collected.
     • An X-ray can reveal the loss of cartilage and bone damage.
     • A CT scan can visualize the bones in the knee. A CT scan takes images from different angles of your knee, which are then put together to create a complete picture.
     • An MRI scan can be used to make a more detailed section of the tissues surrounding the knee, such as cartilage, tendons and ligaments.

Method 2 of 3: Prevent knee arthritis

1. Lose weight. Probably one of the most important ways to treat arthritis is losing weight, although many people find this difficult. If you can reduce the weight on your knees, your joints will be less stressed and you will reduce the risk of arthritis.
2. Customize your activities. Limiting certain activities and trying other forms of exercise may help prevent arthritis damage.
   • Water aerobics is an excellent choice if you have problems with your knees.
   • By walking with a cane or crutches you can reduce the strain on your knees.
3. Take supplements that are good for the joints. Many joint supplements contain molecules naturally present in the body, such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are important for healthy cartilage in the knee joint.
   • While supplements may be able to relieve pain, it is not clear whether they can repair cartilage. Certain studies have shown that there is no benefit over a placebo, but it doesn't hurt that much (except for your wallet), so many orthopedists recommend trying it.
   • Some doctors recommend taking joint supplements for three months to see if they help you.
   • Over-the-counter remedies have not always been properly researched by the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. Consult your doctor if you want to start using these supplements.

Method 3 of 3: Treat knee arthritis

1. Try physical therapy. Strengthening the muscles around the knee joint can help ease the load on your knee. It is important to avoid weakening your muscles so that you can continue to use your knees properly and avoid further damage to the joint.
2. Take anti-inflammatories. Prescription anti-inflammatories or over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen or aspirin are medicines that help with pain and inflammation in the knee.
   • Always consult your doctor before treating arthritis with painkillers, especially if you are already taking other medications.
   • Never exceed the recommended daily dose of any medications, including over-the-counter products. An overdose of painkillers can be life-threatening.
3. Ask for hyaluronic acid injections. Hyaluronic Acid helps lubricate the joints, and it naturally occurs in the fluid within your knee. When you have arthritis, the natural hyaluronic acid in the knee becomes thinner and less effective.
   • Your doctor can give you a hyaluronic acid injection in your knee joint.
   • While these injections don't help everyone, they can relieve symptoms for as long as three to six months.
4. Ask your doctor if you can get corticosteroids or rheumatism. There are some remedies for arthritis. Consult your doctor whether one of these medicines can offer a solution for you.
   • Long-acting anti-rheumatics (such as methotrexate or hydroxychloroquine) slow down or keep your immune system from attacking your joints.
   • Biologicals (such as etanercept and infliximab) target different protein molecules involved in the immune response leading to arthritis
   • Corticosteroids (such as prednisone and cortisone) reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. They can be given orally or as an injection into the joint.
5. Ask your doctor if you need surgery. If other treatment methods fail to relieve arthritis pain or prevent further damage to the joint, surgery may be required, such as arthrodesis or knee replacement.
   • In arthrodesis, the doctor removes the two ends of the bones in the joint and puts them together until they grow together as a whole.
   • With a knee replacement, the doctor removes the damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial knee.

Tips

• If you suspect that you are experiencing the first signs of arthritis, see your doctor right away. Early treatment can change the course of some types of arthritis.
• Knee arthritis treatment should start with simple steps, but may end in surgery.
• Not all treatments are right for every patient, so always talk to your doctor about which methods are best for you.