Chronic knee pain and disability are often caused by arthritis. There are three very common types of arthritis that cause knee problems. They are: rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis.
Traumatic Arthritis: Injury causes traumatic arthritis. A fractured knee or torn ligaments cause excessive wear and tear on the knee causing the articular cartilage to break down. This painful condition can only become worse with the passage of time.
If the synovial membrane of the knee produces too much synovial fluid, it will over-fill the joint space. The fluid will thicken and become inflamed, and it will damage the knees cartilage. This will cause stiffness and pain and a breakdown of the cartilage. This is rheumatoid arthritis.
If the cushion of cartilage in the knee wears out, it leaves the bones to grind against each other. This extremely painful condition is known as osteoarthritis. It is usually a problem for people over fifty years old, especially those who have a history of osteoarthritis in the family.
Knee Replacement May Bring Relief
Talk over all your options with your family and your doctor. If it seems total knee replacement surgery may be a good idea for you, your doctor will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon, who can give you all the details about surgery and other options. Once you are fully informed, you can make a confident choice.
Click here for more on treating knee pain .
If the following conditions apply to you, total knee replacement surgery may be your best option.
You have tried everything and nothing else works. If you have done exercises, physical therapy, cortisone injections, and even lesser types of surgery without relief, it is time to try total knee replacement.
You cannot perform normal activities of daily living (walking, stair climbing, sitting down or rising from a chair) and/or you must use a cane or walker to get around.
You need total knee replacement surgery if:
Your knee hurts so much you cant bend it or straighten it.
Knees that hurt, even while resting.
Bowed knees or any other deformity.
Loss of effectiveness of pain medications. It is important to realize that pain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen may be very effective early on, but as your disease progresses, they tend to lose effectiveness.
Persistent inflammation and swelling that does not subside with medication and rest.
It is important to understand that medications can generally lose effectiveness over time. Additionally, if you take a medication for a long time, you may develop a resistance to it or have a reaction to it. Furthermore, as your arthritis gets worse, your medications just may not be strong enough to manage the pain.
Traumatic Arthritis: Injury causes traumatic arthritis. A fractured knee or torn ligaments cause excessive wear and tear on the knee causing the articular cartilage to break down. This painful condition can only become worse with the passage of time.
If the synovial membrane of the knee produces too much synovial fluid, it will over-fill the joint space. The fluid will thicken and become inflamed, and it will damage the knees cartilage. This will cause stiffness and pain and a breakdown of the cartilage. This is rheumatoid arthritis.
If the cushion of cartilage in the knee wears out, it leaves the bones to grind against each other. This extremely painful condition is known as osteoarthritis. It is usually a problem for people over fifty years old, especially those who have a history of osteoarthritis in the family.
Knee Replacement May Bring Relief
Talk over all your options with your family and your doctor. If it seems total knee replacement surgery may be a good idea for you, your doctor will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon, who can give you all the details about surgery and other options. Once you are fully informed, you can make a confident choice.
Click here for more on treating knee pain .
If the following conditions apply to you, total knee replacement surgery may be your best option.
You have tried everything and nothing else works. If you have done exercises, physical therapy, cortisone injections, and even lesser types of surgery without relief, it is time to try total knee replacement.
You cannot perform normal activities of daily living (walking, stair climbing, sitting down or rising from a chair) and/or you must use a cane or walker to get around.
You need total knee replacement surgery if:
Your knee hurts so much you cant bend it or straighten it.
Knees that hurt, even while resting.
Bowed knees or any other deformity.
Loss of effectiveness of pain medications. It is important to realize that pain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen may be very effective early on, but as your disease progresses, they tend to lose effectiveness.
Persistent inflammation and swelling that does not subside with medication and rest.
It is important to understand that medications can generally lose effectiveness over time. Additionally, if you take a medication for a long time, you may develop a resistance to it or have a reaction to it. Furthermore, as your arthritis gets worse, your medications just may not be strong enough to manage the pain.
About the Author:
Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with over 20 years specializing in knee surgery. He opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, with a focus on specialty patient care. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, orthopedics and torn ACL pain.
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