Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Treating Crepitus for Osteoarthritis
• Part 2 of 2: Preventing Crepitus in the Knee from Worsening

Our knees are made up of three bones: the femur, the tibia, and the patella, or patella.Between them is a softer tissue for shock absorption, cartilage. In some conditions, such as osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage can break down, causing the bones to rub together with a crunching sound (called crepitus), which may be accompanied by pain. Below you will find information on how you can prevent and alleviate this unpleasant disease.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any methods, consult your doctor.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Treating Crepitus for Osteoarthritis

1. 1 Learn about the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Unlike the “normal” crunch that can occur with stretching and is not painful, with arthritis, crepitus in the knee is often quite painful. Fortunately, osteoarthritis can be diagnosed in several ways:
   • Pay attention to pain, redness, swelling, and stiffness in the knee when walking. The most common crepitus caused by arthritis occurs in the inner area of ​​the knee.
   • To feel crepitus, place your hand on your knee and bend and straighten your leg. However, with crepitus, there is usually a slight crunching sensation.
2. 2 Reduce local swelling. If crepitus is accompanied by pain and signs of inflammation, apply ice packs wrapped in a towel to your knee. This will help relieve swelling caused by the inflammation and relieve pain.
   • You can also take small amounts of over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen (Nurofen) and naproxen (Motrin), to quickly relieve pain. However, do not use these drugs for long periods of time, as they can adversely affect the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.
   • The advantage of NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory drugs) is that they not only relieve pain, but also reduce inflammation.
   • NSAIDs can be combined with an over-the-counter pain reliever such as paracetamol (“Panadol!). Although it does not relieve inflammation, it is effective in relieving pain, and the combination of the two medicines (NSAIDs and paracetamol) will allow you to move around painlessly throughout the day.
3. 3 Get a prescription for anti-inflammatories. Prescription NSAIDs include Nalgezin, Indomethacin, Nimesulide, and many others. Prescription anti-inflammatory drugs are more potent than over-the-counter drugs and are more effective in relieving pain and inflammation from crepitus in the knee. However, these more potent drugs require a prescription, which requires a visit to your doctor.
   • Prescription NSAIDs can have side effects, most commonly stomach irritation, and in severe cases (or overdose), stomach ulcers and kidney damage can develop. Always take your medications as directed and do not exceed your doctor's recommended dosage.
4. 4 Get a cortisone injection. It is a steroid hormone that is produced by the body in response to stress. Please note that it is not a steroid used (and sometimes abused) by athletes and bodybuilders. Cortisone suppresses the immune system and significantly reduces inflammation. For painful crepitus, your doctor may inject directly into the knee joint to relieve pain and inflammation.
   • Cortisone injections have been shown to help manage recurrent flare-ups of knee crepitus. However, frequent repeated injections into the knee joint can worsen the condition of the cartilage and increase the pain associated with crepitus. Therefore, cortisone injections are not suitable as a long-term treatment.
   • Cortisone injections are recommended no more than once every three months, although they can be used as long as they are effective (several years in some cases).
5. 5 Undergo so-called "viscosapplementary therapy". The knee joint contains synovial fluid that lubricates the tissues and stabilizes the movement of the joint. In some people with osteoarthritis, the synovial fluid becomes thinner, that is, it becomes less viscous. This can lead to additional friction and impaired joint mobility. In this case, the doctor may recommend viscosapplementary therapy, in which additional fluid is injected into the knee joint to strengthen it and improve lubrication.
   • This treatment usually involves 3-5 injections over several weeks.
   • Bear in mind that about half of the patients undergoing viscosapplementary therapy experience improvement.
6. 6 Wear an articulated brace on your knee. Knee arthritis patients are sometimes instructed to wear special medical braces. These braces reduce stress on the inside of the knee, which is most commonly crepitus. In addition, knee braces stabilize and support the knee joint, help it flex properly and protect it from further damage and irritation.
   • Although there are inexpensive, non-prescription knee braces available on the market, in most cases it is necessary to make a personal healing brace that fits well to the joint, which is more expensive. If you require a knee brace, consult your doctor.
7. 7 Talk to your doctor about surgery. In severe cases of knee crepitus caused by arthritis, surgery may be necessary. If your quality of life has noticeably deteriorated due to knee pain and you have already tried various treatments, consider talking to your doctor about knee surgery.
   • The doctor may recommend different types of surgeries. Common types of surgery include partial or total knee replacement, cartilage repair, knee arthroscopy, and knee osteotomy.
   • Be aware that a particular operation may help some patients and not relieve others. Arthritis treatment doesn't follow strict rules. Be sure to discuss all your options with your doctor before making your final decision.

Part 2 of 2: Preventing Crepitus in the Knee from Worsening

1. 1 Make sure you get the correct diagnosis. Knee pain can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, including osteoarthritis (the most common cause is knee wear over time), rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease), infectious arthritis, chronic knee injuries, or kneecap dysfunction. It is necessary to consult a doctor so that he can make the correct diagnosis, since the treatment depends on what exactly is happening in the sore knee joint.
   • Likewise, if, for example, you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, but your condition has not improved after treatment, talk to your doctor about having additional tests to find out if the problem is caused by some other cause.
2. 2 Monitor your weight. Each kilogram of weight increases the load on the knee joint by about six kilograms. In view of this, arthritis develops more often in obese people. To prevent future knee pain (and reduce existing symptoms), try to maintain a healthy body weight primarily through diet, as knee pain can limit exercise.
   • People with arthritis are advised to limit their intake of fried foods, sugars, refined carbohydrates, salt, preservatives, and corn oil, as these foods can directly increase knee inflammation and may also contribute to weight gain.
3. 3 Get exercise. The muscles surrounding the joints act as shock absorbers, supporting and stabilizing the joints during physical exertion (both during sports and during daily activities).The stronger the muscles are, the more of the load they will take on. To prevent crepitus (or reduce existing crepitus), gradually strengthen the muscles around the knee joints with strength exercises.
   • For knee crepitus, an exercise such as hip contraction, which strengthens the muscles around the knee joint, is helpful. Place a rolled towel under your knee and tighten your thigh muscles. Keep them tense for 5 seconds, then relax. Repeat the exercise 10 times.
   • Isometric exercises, such as lifting a straight leg (with a fixed knee), straining the quads, and squats against the wall, help strengthen the knee joint without stressing it too much, so it does not increase pain and inflammation.
   • You can also do light cardio exercises (it is recommended to do them at least three times a week), such as cycling and swimming. These exercises strengthen the muscles in the thigh and lower leg. They can also help you lose weight and thus reduce the pain of crepitus.
4. 4 Try a combination of ice and warm compresses. Cold and warm compresses have been shown to help relieve knee crepitus pain. Experiment with ice and warm compresses and find out which works best for you.
5. 5 Take dietary supplements with caution. Some people with arthritis take certain dietary supplements, such as glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, to help prevent or relieve crepitus. However, these nutritional supplements not have been rigorously tested and not scientifically proven to help. In addition, there is little information about the possible side effects of long-term use. Clinical studies are still underway to evaluate their therapeutic effect. Before taking these nutritional supplements, talk to your doctor or someone you trust who has already used them.