Early Symptoms of Knee Arthritis and How to Slow Its Progression

The knee is the largest joint in the human body, and because it constantly bears the weight of our bodies, it can be prone to overuse, wear and tear and injury. It helps us to stand, move and keep balance and allows us to bend and straighten our legs and slightly turn or twist them too. It is an extremely complex joint that is made up of the shin bone (tibia) and thigh bone (femur), the kneecap (patella), cartilage and an array of different ligaments. Knee problems are very common and can be caused by an injury to the knee, or from diseases like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout, to name a few.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is typically the result of wear and tear. It is a degenerative disease, meaning it causes a progressive deterioration of the joint as the cartilage in the knee is worn away. The early symptoms of knee arthritis can include pain, stiffness, swelling and weakness, and as osteoarthritis is a progressive disease it can become serious if left untreated.

As with all health issues, the fitter and healthier you are in general the better equipped you will be to fight off diseases and reduce your chances of developing certain health conditions. An unhealthy diet can lead to all sorts of problems in the body, but the most obvious issue where the knees are concerned is becoming overweight or obese. As the knee joint is responsible for carrying the most body weight, the heavier a person is the more strain is put on the knee joint. People who have suffered knee injuries earlier in life from an accident or as a result of strenuous exercise are more prone to develop osteoarthritis, and generally, it happens in people aged 50 and over, although younger people can also develop the disease.

How Can I Stop My Arthritis from Progressing?

Osteoarthritis was once considered an inevitable part of getting older, but research has shown that it is a complex process that is the result of many different factors, so can you slow down arthritis in your knee? Yes, you can. While there is no cure for OA, you can significantly slow the progression of the disease down with changes to your lifestyle. Performing regular low-impact exercise is one of the best ways to keep joints healthy. Aside from strengthening the heart and lungs, regular exercise helps to keep the joints limber and the muscles that support the joints to stay strong and supple. Regular exercise will also help to keep your weight under control, therefore alleviating further stress on the knee. If you are wondering how to reverse knee arthritis, there is no known way to reverse the damage caused by the disease, but you can significantly manage the symptoms and slow down its progression with simple lifestyle changes.

When somebody tells you “This is how I cured my knee osteoarthritis" they probably mean through managing the condition they have managed to reduce stiffness and pain. It will not go away, but certain over-the-counter medications like the NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) ibuprofen, and non-opioid drugs like paracetamol will help relieve pain and inflammation, and your doctor can provide stronger, prescription medication if needed.

Other knee arthritis treatments without surgery include regular visits to a physiotherapist who can design personal programs to improve your range of motion and strengthen supporting muscles. Using devices like shoe inserts or knee braces can help support your joints when moving, as can the use of a cane or walking device. These aids can be particularly useful if you have lost muscle strength and are finding it difficult to balance properly. Topical treatments like heat and ice therapy can relieve symptoms and reduce swelling, as can lotions like arnica cream and topical NSAID lotions applied directly to the area. Cortisone, or steroid injections given directly into the knee can offer temporary relief from pain if oral medication isn't working, and alternative therapeutic injections like platelet-rich plasma, or knee-gel shots may be a preferred substitute to cortisone injections.

What Can Be Done for Arthritis in the Knee?

It is very important not to ignore early signs of knee problems and just pass them off as passing aches and pains. The earlier you get a diagnosis the sooner your doctor can minimize risk factors and slow down the effects of OA. If you have a family history of osteoarthritis then you may be at a higher risk of developing the disease, so take heed of any aches or stiffness you notice in your joints.

If you want to know what the most effective treatment for knee arthritis is then remember the mantra - prevention is better than cure. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping your weight and BMI down are vital to reducing stress on joints, and maintaining low-impact exercises like walking, swimming or cycling will help to keep mobility and strengthen muscles. Staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water is important for general health, and as water is a principal component of cartilage it can help reduce friction in the joint and help to flush out toxins. Smoking and alcohol consumption both have a wide range of negative effects on health, including joint health, as can high-stress levels and not getting adequate rest and sleep.

Surgical Solutions for Advanced Hip and Knee Arthritis

When arthritis reaches an advanced stage and significantly impacts mobility or quality of life, surgical options such as partial or total knee replacement may be recommended by the experienced surgeons at Victorian Bone & Joint Specialists.

Partial knee replacement is a procedure suited for patients whose arthritis is confined to one compartment of the knee. This less invasive option preserves more of the natural knee structure and often allows for a faster recovery. The VBJS surgical team carefully assesses each patient to determine whether a partial approach is appropriate.

Total knee replacement is performed when arthritis affects multiple areas of the knee joint. The damaged surfaces are replaced with prosthetic components designed to restore movement and relieve pain. Victorian Bone & Joint Specialists' surgeons are highly experienced in performing this procedure using advanced techniques tailored to each patient.

To improve patient outcomes, VBJS surgeons use the latest in surgical technology including robotic-assisted knee replacements if suitable. Robotics allow for:

• Greater precision in bone alignment and implant placement
• Personalised surgical planning using advanced imaging
• Reduced risk of implant misalignment or early wear
• Potentially faster recovery and improved long-term joint function

By combining surgical expertise with cutting-edge technology, the surgeons at Victorian Bone & Joint Specialists ensure that patients receive the most accurate and effective treatment possible for knee arthritis.

The 4 Stages of Arthritis

The 4 stages of arthritis are early, mild, moderate and severe, and as mentioned above, the earlier you diagnose the problem the better the outcome. During stage 1 there may be little or no stiffness, with minor damage to the cartilage. Stage 2 will cause some pain and stiffness after inactivity because of cartilage damage and possibly the development of small bone spurs. There is cartilage deterioration in stage 3, with pain, stiffness and swelling, and visible bone spurs, and in stage 4 there is little or no cartilage left, causing a painful, stiff knee that may be immobile and will significantly interfere with daily life.

Treatment for stage 4 arthritis of the knee usually requires surgery to repair or replace the knee joint, as the damage is severe and can be very painful. An X-ray, or CT or MRI scan may be used to determine the amount of damage that has occurred in your knee and to help the surgeon decide the best course of action for you. Depending on the diagnosis there are different types of surgery, ranging from minimally invasive operations to repair damage to damaged tissues, to a total knee replacement where the whole knee joint is replaced with a prosthesis.

While non-surgical treatments may relieve pain temporarily, because osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease knee surgery can help you maintain an active and healthy lifestyle into the future. Thanks to the progressive nature of medicine today, new treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee are always emerging, including cartilage regeneration techniques where your own cartilage cells are harvested, grown in a lab, and implanted back into the damaged area to repair cartilage loss. There are also devices that can be implanted into the knee to absorb impact and reduce pain in the early stages.

Not all new treatments may be suitable for all patients, so it is important to get a full diagnosis from your healthcare specialist and be aware of all the options available to you to give you the best possible outcome.