Knee pain is usually caused by arthritis. There are three common types of arthritis: rheumatoid, traumatic, 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
Meet with your family, your doctor and your orthopedic surgeon to discuss the pros and cons of total knee replacement. Your doctor is likely to refer you to an orthopedic surgeon who will give you all the details of the operation and explain the alternatives. You will learn about alternative surgeries, such as unicompartmental knee replacement and minimally invasive knee replacement. With this information, you will be able to make an informed decision.
Click here for more on treating knee pain .
Total knee replacement is often the best choice for the following reasons:
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.
Inability to Perform Activities of Daily Living: Problems sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of a car, or problems with other common everyday activities indicate a need for total knee replacement surgery. Reliance on an assistive device such as a walker or cane is also an indication.
You need total knee replacement surgery if:
Joint stiffness that prevents you from flexing your knee comfortably.
Your knee hurts even when you are resting it.
Bowing or other deformity of the knee(s).
Your aspirin or ibuprofen dont work any more. Understand that these medications are good for early symptoms, but as your pain worsens, they cant keep up.
Your knee continues to be swollen, red and painful, even after you have taken medication and rested it.
It is important to realize that the effectiveness of medications may vary widely from patient to patient. The more severe your arthritis, the less effective medications will be. Over time, you may build up a tolerance to medications that prevents them from being effective, or you may develop complications that prevent you from being able to use them at all.
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
Meet with your family, your doctor and your orthopedic surgeon to discuss the pros and cons of total knee replacement. Your doctor is likely to refer you to an orthopedic surgeon who will give you all the details of the operation and explain the alternatives. You will learn about alternative surgeries, such as unicompartmental knee replacement and minimally invasive knee replacement. With this information, you will be able to make an informed decision.
Click here for more on treating knee pain .
Total knee replacement is often the best choice for the following reasons:
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.
Inability to Perform Activities of Daily Living: Problems sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of a car, or problems with other common everyday activities indicate a need for total knee replacement surgery. Reliance on an assistive device such as a walker or cane is also an indication.
You need total knee replacement surgery if:
Joint stiffness that prevents you from flexing your knee comfortably.
Your knee hurts even when you are resting it.
Bowing or other deformity of the knee(s).
Your aspirin or ibuprofen dont work any more. Understand that these medications are good for early symptoms, but as your pain worsens, they cant keep up.
Your knee continues to be swollen, red and painful, even after you have taken medication and rested it.
It is important to realize that the effectiveness of medications may vary widely from patient to patient. The more severe your arthritis, the less effective medications will be. Over time, you may build up a tolerance to medications that prevents them from being effective, or you may develop complications that prevent you from being able to use them at all.
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, ortho surgeon and partial knee replacement.
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