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A4 Knee Osteoarthritis with notes
SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT KNEE JOINT OSTEOARTHRITIS
Knee OA is the most common form of osteoarthritis that plagues the body.
It’s extremely common in people aged over 50 years, but if you’re unlucky, it can strike when you’re even younger!
Often the symptoms will start making your acquiantance gradually, maybe first starting after you’ve been active.
Other times, it likes to surprise you and develops insidiously! (Thanks OA)
OA SPAWNS FROM A COMBINATION OF:
- Mechanical stress
- Low grade inflammation within a joint
As joints don’t take kindly to these things, over time the joint starts to journey down a dark path of destruction, cartilage loss and unspeakable bone pathology!
HOW DO I GET OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Well there’s not one sure fire way to get OA, but here are some of the more common risk factors:
- Hereditary – You’re more likely to get OA if it runs in your family
- Mechanical injury
- Excess body weight
- Loss of muscle strength
- Jobs that require manual labour
- Misalignments of bones
- Impaired peripheral nerve function
WAYS TO TELL IT’S OA
- Does your knee ache when it rains?
- Does it snap crackle and pop like a fine bowl of rice bubbles?
- Does it sound like you’ve opened a barn yard door every time you move your knee? (That crepitus)
- Is your knee refusing to straighten?
- Are you plagued with the worst kind of morning stiffness?
- Does your knee give away unannounced? (Thanks KNEE) Well! If have most of the above, chances are you have a stock standard case of osteoarthritis (The degenerative kind)
DIAGNOSIS OF OA
- Often diagnosis is made through history & clinical examination If you want to confirm the diagnosis, an x-ray will usually give you what you need
WHAT DOES OA LOOK LIKE ON X-RAY?
- Osteophytic spurring – new bone growth
- Narrowing of the joint space
- Erosion of the precious cartilage – once it’s gone, it ain’t coming back!
- Subchondral sclerosis – Watch the x-ray light up like a Christmas tree!
- Subchondral cysts – now that’s one cheesy knee!
HOW DO YOU TAKE THE PAIN AWAY???
- Get physically active (improves mobility + aids in weight loss)
- Strengthen muscles surrounding the joint to give the knee joint a break
- Range of motion exercises
- Weight management
-
Analgesics – Paracetamol/Tylenol
-
Corticosteroid injections
-
Hyaluronic acid injections
-
Physical therapy & OT
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Assistive devices – scooters, canes, walkers, orthotics
-
Surgery to repair/replace joint by an Orthopaedic Surgeon
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