About 10% of Americans over age 55 have knee arthritis that causes pain and mild to moderate disability. If knee pain makes it hard to kneel, climb stairs, or even walk normally, the fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons at Premier Orthopedic Specialists of Tulsa can help. They offer comprehensive knee arthritis treatment, customized to your unique needs. Call the Tulsa, Oklahoma, office or use the provided online scheduling link for help now.
Knee arthritis is a group of conditions that can seriously damage your knee joint, leading to pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving normally. The types of arthritis that may affect the knee joint include:
Osteoarthritis is by far the most common type of arthritis in the knees. It’s a degenerative condition in which the rubbery cartilage that coats your bones wears away over the years.
As it breaks down, cartilage grows rough and uneven. You may experience painful bone grinding as the cartilage wears away and exposes the ends of the joint bones. Many people also develop bone spurs, painful spikes of bone, in the knee joint with osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to destroy its own joints and tissues. This leads to significant swelling in the synovial membrane encasing your knee joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause pain, stiffness, and joint deformity. It usually affects both knees at the same time.
Post-traumatic arthritis is a unique type of osteoarthritis that may occur after an injury. A knee injury, for example, a fracture, can cause joint damage that later leads to arthritis.
A knee injury also may change the way you move, leading to excessive strain on your knee joint that eventually causes arthritis. Post-traumatic arthritis may develop years after an injury.
Each type of knee can lead to severe pain and mobility issues.
Knee arthritis causes issues that include:
Many people with knee arthritis experience increased symptoms first thing in the morning or after a long period of rest. Pain may spike during rainy weather or other weather changes.
Knee arthritis treatment begins with conservative approaches, including medication management, physical therapy, walking supports, and lifestyle changes.
If those treatments no longer help with your pain and mobility issues, your Premier Orthopedic Specialists of Tulsa surgeon may recommend surgery.
One option for mild to moderate knee arthritis may be arthroscopic surgery, in which your surgeon uses tiny entry ports in your skin to view your knee and remove damaged cartilage.
For moderate to severe knee arthritis, knee arthroplasty (knee replacement) may be the best way to restore your knee function and eliminate your chronic pain.
During knee replacement, your surgeon removes damaged cartilage and the top part of the bone underneath. They replace it with plastic and metal implants that fit your knee’s anatomy.
If you’re experiencing the symptoms of knee arthritis, call Premier Orthopedic Specialists of Tulsa or book an appointment using online scheduling today.
