OSTEOARTHRITIS is a very common condition that is known as the “wear and tear” arthritis. Other forms of the disease exist and they include gout, rheumatoid, psoriatic, and fibromyalgia.

Cartilage that naturally cushions joints wear away so that the bones rub against each other. This means that there is less shock absorption so the patient will be subjected to pain, inflammation, stiffness, reduced movement, and the formation of spurs. The knee is very susceptible to osteoarthritis due to the amount of work it has to do.

Causes

Age: Most people over the age of 50 have some form of osteoarthritis in their body.

Hereditary: Genetically, some people are predisposed to developing osteoarthritis. Other people inherit bone shapes and angles that will contribute to developing osteoarthritis.

Repetitive stress injuries: These are often due to the occupation of the patient. If your jobs means that you have to kneel, squat or lift heavy items, you are more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee.

Athletes: Due to the constant use of their joints, athletes are at high risk of developing osteoarthritis. It is important that they take precautions to avoid injury and have regular physiotherapy.

Gender: Women over the age of 55 are more likely to develop osteoarthritis in the knee than men.

Miscellaneous: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other metabolic illnesses are at risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Symptoms

• Swelling;

• Pain, especially when active;

• Decreased mobility. Getting up from a chair, out of a car or walking up and down stairs can become more challenging;

• Creaking sounds around the joint when flexing.

Diagnosis

Osteoarthritis of the knee can be diagnosed by clinical examination with a follow-up X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging, if indicated.

Treatment

The main aim of a clinician when treating osteoarthritis of the knee is to improve mobility and reduce pain. The best way to achieve this is:

• Weight loss: Losing weight removes the excess pressure on the joints. Even losing a few pounds can make a huge difference.

• Pain relief: There are many medications that can be bought over the counter or prescribed. Most of these will act as anti-inflammatories. Steroid and hyaluronic acid injections may be considered by the doctor. An excellent natural anti-inflammatory is turmeric, which has been proved to be just as effective as the most popular prescribed drugs. Acupuncture and glucosamine supplements may also be helpful.

• Braces may support the knee or reduce the pressure on the offending side of the knee.

• Physiotherapy can help to strengthen the surrounding muscles to support the joint and increase its flexibility.

• Surgery: This is always the last solution if the other treatments are inadequate. Orthopaedic surgeons may carry out an arthroscopy where all of the loose debris is removed from the joint space and the bone surfaces cleaned. An osteotomy will attempt to improve the knees alignment by changing the shape of the bones. Lastly, an arthroplasty will replace the old joint with an artificial one.

Though surgery has risks, the results are usually good.

Angela Davis BSc (Hons) DPodM MChS is a podiatrist with offices in Montego Bay (293- 7119), Mandeville (962-2100), Ocho Rios (974-6339), Kingston (978-8392), and Savanna-la-Mar (955-3154). She is a member of the Health and Care Professions Council in the United Kingdom.