What is knee arthritis?

Knee arthritis occurs when the cartilage of the knee joint gradually erodes. Cartilage is a rubbery tissue that allows bones to glide smoothly over one another. Without the cushioning effect of cartilage, the bones of the knee joint rub together. The knee can’t move easily and becomes stiff, swollen and painful, particularly with weight-bearing activities.

What are the symptoms of knee arthritis?

Common early symptoms include aching joints after physical activity or stiffness first thing in the morning. The pain may cause a feeling of weakness in the knee, resulting in locking or buckling. Generally, the pain associated with knee arthritis develops gradually. With time, symptoms may occur more often, making it difficult to bend or straighten the knee. It can become harder to walk, climb stairs or get in and out of the car. Worsening knee arthritis can interfere with daily activities and impact your quality of life.

How is knee arthritis diagnosed?

In addition to a physical exam and patient history, your doctor can use specific tests, including X-ray and MRI, to diagnose knee arthritis.

What is the treatment?

There is no cure for knee arthritis, but treatment can help slow its progression, reduce pain and increase function.

Patients are encouraged to try these non-operative options first:

• Weight loss. Simple weight loss can reduce stress on the knee. If you’re overweight, losing just five percent of your current weight can improve your arthritis symptoms.
• Exercise/physical therapy. Exercise is important to lubricate the knee joint, strengthen surrounding muscles, maintain bone strength and control weight. Non-impact exercises are best. Patients should avoid running and jumping exercises and do more gliding type exercises, such as walking, biking, swimming or using an elliptical trainer. Your doctor or physical therapist can help develop an individualized exercise program that meets your needs and lifestyle.
• Medication. Acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and topical creams and sprays can combat pain and inflammation. If over-the-counter medications don’t provide relief, your doctor may give you a prescription anti-inflammatory drug or other medication to help ease the pain.
• Injections. Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can be injected directly into the knee to help temporarily relive pain.
• Viscosupplementation. Viscosupplementation involves the injection of a gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid into the knee joint to supplement the properties of synovial fluid and lubricate the area. The injections may also stimulate the body to produce more of its own hyaluronic acid. Common names for viscosupplementation include ORTHOVISC®, Synvisc-One®, Euflexxa® and HYALGAN® – all of which have had varying degrees of success in treating knee arthritis.

If these non-operative treatments don’t work, both total knee replacement and partial knee replacement are good surgical options, depending on the extent and location of arthritis in the knee. These are safe and effective procedures to relieve pain and help you resume normal activities.

Today, most knee replacement surgeries are minimally invasive, with numerous benefits to the patient. These include smaller incisions, less tissue trauma, bleeding and post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and earlier return to work and everyday activities.

Recovery from knee replacement surgery varies by patient. Advancements in minimally invasive approaches, improved implant material and design, and refined surgical techniques have dramatically reduced recovery time. For minimally invasive knee replacement patients, the typical recovery period is now weeks rather than months.