Knee arthritis is a common condition for the adults starting from the age of 50 and over. However this can as well affect younger people because of the genes passed down from the parents.
Knee joint pain can be quite disturbing and annoying if treatment is not administered in time as recommended. It is important to understand the causes of knee arthritis so that the correct treatment will be administered in time.
Causes of Knee Arthritis
There are various causes of knee arthritis including;
- Genetics i.e. genetic transfer from parents to children
- Injury to the knee in case of accidents
- Tearing of the tendons and ligaments around the knee area
- Other medical conditions such as inflammation, obesity and diabetes
These causes knee cartilages to become rough or thinning of the synovial fluid which the lubricant causing stiffness, pain and sometimes inflammation. When such symptoms are evident, it is crucial that treatment is sought as soon as possible to alleviate more pain and suffering associated with the condition.
Diagnosis of Knee Arthritis
Basically this starts with physical examination by a specialist who observes the condition of the joints through X-rays examinations then recommending the right treatment process.
In order to know when to seek knee arthritis treatment, you will first have to understand the above-mentioned symptoms when performing your daily activities. Pain during such activities and reduced range of movement in a frequent manner directly points at a serious problem.
Symptoms of Knee Arthritis
There are quite many indicators that you are suffering from kneel arthritis including;
- Pain around the knee with daily activities
- Unusual and reduced movement
- Swelling of the joint area
- Stiffness around the knee area
- Feeling of a collapsing knee joint
Any moment such symptoms are evident, it is important to seek medical attention where the specialists will have to diagnose you and offer the right treatment. Remember that waiting for longer gets the situation worse.
Despite the fact that knee arthritis symptoms and progression may not be reported as being steady and on a daily basis, it is important to seek treatment early enough so as to get the situation under control.
It is usually common to experience the condition during specific weather conditions especially when it is very cold. It is for this reason that you are advised to seek medical intervention in good time.
Knee Arthritis Treatment
Depending with the cause of the condition, there are different knee arthritis treatments available. Among the best remedies for this condition include;
Weight Loss
Excess body weight has got a number of complications and knee joint pain is one of them. Whether the joint pains result from arthritis or any other cause, there are several moderate exercises that can be carried out to reduce the pain and eventually the condition.
According to ncbi medical researchers Osteoarthritis, a condition of the joints is commonly caused by lose of cartilage in the joints causing an overgrowth of bones that makes movement so painful and unstable.
Certain exercises have been recommended to help in enhancing muscle strength and physical fitness. Besides helping in weight loss, the exercises are also crucial in strengthening the muscle tendons and ligaments around the ball and socket joint relieving the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
The various exercises that have been approved for this treatment include the traditional muscle strengthening exercises, aerobics and fitness exercises and other functional trainings.
According to the research findings of the ncbi report[1], the exercises resulted in reduced scores of pain on the ball and socket joint, improved physical function and improved their quality of life at the end of the training program.
In the case of knee arthritis treatment, a cane or crutch may be quite helpful to use. This will help in strengthening the knee muscles so as to get rid of the direct pressure exerted on the joint.
Non-Prescription and Prescription Medication
These are the various types of medications that have been proved to be effective in alleviating the ball and socket pain resulting from knee arthritis.
Such medications are mainly used to provide relief from the inflammation of the joints that cause the pain. In some cases, patients of this condition prefer cortisone injections to relieve the knee arthritis effects.
Knee Replacement Surgery
This is the ultimate solution for knee arthritis that can’t be treated using the other available treatment options. It may include partial or total replacement of the knee joint which is a technical operation done by medical experts.
The experts are basically tasked to remove the weight-bearing surfaces and replacing them so as to get rid of the joint pains and motion problems.
In the surgery, damaged cartilage is removed and plastic or metal implants inserted in place to serve the same function. As mentioned earlier, this is the last option when the rest of the knee arthritis treatments can’t effectively help in getting rid of the condition.
Natural Treatment of Inflammation
Inflammation is a common symptom of knee arthritis. The condition may not seem as a serious thing until it gets to its chronic levels where it starts affecting various parts of the body especially the joints.
There are many natural remedies for inflammation that have been proven to work. Taking of essential oils such as olive oil which has oleocanthal, ginger, fish, turmeric, heat-cold therapy and cinnamon are some of the most commonly used home remedies for inflammation.
Results Vary From One Patient to Another
This is a crucial point that knee arthritis patients must bear in mind; what works on one patient may not necessarily work for the other in knee arthritis treatment. What matters in each case are the symptoms that show up.
Depending with the specific symptoms, the medical doctors will be able to advice on the right treatment. For instance, ball and socket joint pain will be alleviated differently from the way inflammation as a result of knee arthritis will. Treating arthritis by joint pain supplement is also the best option, one of the suggested joint pain formula is Turmeric Plus.
See More: Treat Arthritis Knee Pain With Epsom Salt Baths
Conclusion
Knee arthritis can be so disturbing at a point that it will affect the general quality of life. That is why you need to seek immediate medical checkup and examination to determine the cause and probable solutions to the same.
Your ball and socket joints are crucial for the normal functioning and anything that affects it needs to be treated as immediately as possible.
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In Post Image Credit: painmanagementtrends.com & Shutterstock