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Knee arthritis is one of the most common joint conditions, primarily affecting older adults. The wear and tear of the knee joint gradually damages the cartilage, causing the onset of pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced mobility, which are all symptoms of knee arthritis.

Because cartilage cannot repair itself, knee arthritis progressively worsens, eventually preventing people from performing everyday activities. "In advanced stages of knee arthritis, even performing everyday activities becomes a chore. Weather changes may trigger knee pain, which may even cause sleep disturbances," says Mumbai's top knee doctor, Dr. Pradeep Moonot.

Despite the widespread assumption that knee arthritis affects only elderly adults, it can also develop in younger adults, especially those who have suffered damage to the knee joint. While there is no permanent cure for knee arthritis, with the right changes, its onset can be delayed, symptoms can be alleviated, and a considerable margin can prolong knee health. For this to happen, everyone must be aware of this condition, its symptoms, and the best prevention practices to manage it successfully.

With insights from Mumbai’s top knee surgeon Dr. Pradeep Moonot, this blog aims to improve awareness about this common yet impactful condition. Read on.

What is Knee Arthritis?

Arthritis is a broad term for conditions causing joint pain and inflammation. The knee, being a large and complex joint, is particularly prone to arthritis.

Knee arthritis arises when the smooth, cushioning cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in the knee begins to wear away or become damaged, causing the bones to rub against each other and leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Causes of Knee Arthritis:

Gradual degeneration of the knee joint with age is one of the common causes of knee arthritis, which is why older adults are the most affected age group in this category. However, there are many causes of knee arthritis, making every age group at risk of this condition. Let us understand the several root causes of knee arthritis in detail.

• Wear and tear of the cartilage
• Obesity adds stress to knee joints
• Joint injuries such as ACL injuries, fractures, and torn meniscus
• Lack of strength or flexibility in the muscles
• Genetics or heredity
• Autoimmune disorder
• Endocrine diseases (e.g. diabetes)
• Aging (above 40 years)

Types of Knee Arthritis

There are 100 types of arthritis, but the most common that affect the knee are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis.

1. Osteoarthritis (OA): This is a degenerative joint disease where the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones in the knee gradually wears away. This leads to pain, stiffness, and reduced movement.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the synovium (the lining of the membranes around the joints), causing inflammation, pain, and eventually, joint damage.
3. Post-Traumatic Arthritis: Occurs after an injury to the knee, such as fractures or ligament tears. The injury can cause the joint to wear out prematurely, leading to arthritis.
4. Other Factors: Issues such as gout and infections also play a role in knee arthritis development.

Symptoms of Knee Arthritis

After understanding the types of arthritis, it is necessary to identify the symptoms of knee arthritis to ensure early intervention and prompt treatment. The most common symptoms of knee arthritis include:

• Severe pain in different knee areas
• Knee swells due to inflammation
• Grinding or cracking sound (crepitus)
• Knee catches and locks due to damaged cartilage
• Difficulty to fully stretch the knee
• Bone spursv
• Skin redness
• Stiffness in the joints
• Difficulty walking

Management and Treatment of Knee Arthritis:

Arthritis in your knee will likely always affect you. But some treatments help reduce the severity of your symptoms and possibly stop the arthritis from getting worse, including:

1. Lifestyle Modifications

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise using low-impact activities (swimming, cycling) instead of high-impact activities (jogging, tennis)
• Wear shock-absorbing insoles in your shoes
• Apply heat or ice to the area
• Wear a knee sleeve or brace
• Physical therapy exercises that help with flexibility, strength, and motion
• Use a cane
• Acupuncture
• Platelet-rich plasma

2. Non-surgical Treatments:

For mild to moderate knee arthritis, non-surgical treatments can be very effective.

Medications: Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs can help manage symptoms.

Physical therapy: personalized exercise programs to strengthen the muscles around the knee, improve flexibility, and reduce pain.

Injections: Corticosteroid injections can reduce inflammation, while hyaluronic acid injections lubricate the knee joint.

3. Surgical treatments

In cases where non-surgical methods are insufficient, surgical options may be necessary. Dr. Pradeep Moonot is recognized as one of the best knee replacement surgeons in Mumbai, offering a variety of surgical treatments:

Arthroscopic Surgery: A minimally invasive procedure to clean the damaged cartilage or repair meniscal tears.

Osteotomy: realigning the bones to shift weight away from the damaged part of the knee.

Partial Knee Replacement: Only the damaged part of the knee joint is replaced, preserving healthy bone and tissue.

Total Knee Replacement (TKR):

In this procedure, the entire knee joint is replaced with a prosthetic, which provides significant pain relief and improved function for patients with severe arthritis.

Living with knee pain can be challenging, but you don't have to face it alone. At our knee expert clinic in Mumbai, Dr. Pradeep Moonot, the best knee doctor in Mumbai, provides top-quality care. If you're struggling with severe knee arthritis, Dr. Pradeep Moonot, the best knee replacement surgeon in Mumbai, offers personalized treatment plans for your needs. Trust the expertise of the best knee specialist in Mumbai to help you regain your mobility.

Don't let knee pain control your life. Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Pradeep Moonot, the best knee surgeon in Mumbai; his commitment to patient care and successful outcomes has made him a highly recommended knee specialist in Mumbai to help you live pain-free.