What Causes Loss of Knee Function and Knee Pain?
Often chronic knee pain is caused by one of the three common types of arthritis: osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
A serious injury can bring on traumatic arthritis. If ligaments are torn or the knee is fractured, it can cause damage to articular cartilage which will only worsen with time. Of course, this is painful and affects the knees ability to function.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes the synovial membrane to produce too much fluid. The fluid overfills the joint space, thickens, and becomes inflamed causing damage to the knees cartilage. This chronic condition causes loss of cartilage, stiffness and pain.
Osteoarthritis: When the cushion of cartilage in the knee wears out, it leaves bone against bone. This is quite painful and causes knees to stiffen badly. This condition is usually seen in people who are over the age of 50. It is even more prevalent in people whose family has a history of osteoarthritis.
Is Knee Replacement The Solution?
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 knee pain solutions .
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.
Symptoms That Indicate a Need For Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Joint stiffness that prevents you from flexing your knee comfortably.
Pain in your knee(s) while at rest.
Bowing or other deformity of the knee(s).
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 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. - 17273
A serious injury can bring on traumatic arthritis. If ligaments are torn or the knee is fractured, it can cause damage to articular cartilage which will only worsen with time. Of course, this is painful and affects the knees ability to function.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes the synovial membrane to produce too much fluid. The fluid overfills the joint space, thickens, and becomes inflamed causing damage to the knees cartilage. This chronic condition causes loss of cartilage, stiffness and pain.
Osteoarthritis: When the cushion of cartilage in the knee wears out, it leaves bone against bone. This is quite painful and causes knees to stiffen badly. This condition is usually seen in people who are over the age of 50. It is even more prevalent in people whose family has a history of osteoarthritis.
Is Knee Replacement The Solution?
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 knee pain solutions .
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.
Symptoms That Indicate a Need For Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Joint stiffness that prevents you from flexing your knee comfortably.
Pain in your knee(s) while at rest.
Bowing or other deformity of the knee(s).
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 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. - 17273
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.
posted by X - Men at
7:30 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home