About Knee Arthritis
Types of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis, and trauma-related arthritis are the most common causes of joint damage. Click here to read more about trauma-related arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is still not completely understood and there is no cure. Different factors may play a role in OA, including age, weight, trauma, or overuse. The disease, common in people over 60, can occur at younger ages. Osteoarthritis causes the normally smooth joint surfaces to wear away. This results in:
- Bone-on-bone contact
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
If you have OA, everyday activities may be extremely painful or even impossible. Simple things like walking, driving, lifting, standing, and exercising may be causing you extreme pain. It may even hurt when lying down to sleep or rest.
OA is a progressive disease. While early treatment can slow things down, affected joints generally continue to get worse.
- Early in the disease, joints may ache after physical work or exercise.
- When OA becomes severe and the cartilage wears away, bones begin to rub together, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint.
- Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape. Also, bone spurs may grow on the edges of the joint. Pieces of bone or cartilage can break off and float inside the joint space, causing even more pain and damage.1
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, meaning it may attack any or all joints in the body. It differs from OA in the following ways:
- Affects women more often than men
- Can strike young and old alike
- Causes destruction of the joint by severe inflammation
Trends in Arthritis
A study from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) has found that OA can have a significant impact on your everyday life. Many sufferers are less active, gain weight, lose sleep, and watch more TV. In addition, OA has been impacting people at an earlier age may cause sufferers to feel “old” before their time.
If you’re interested in reducing your pain and regaining more natural motion, knee replacement may be right for you. Continue exploring this site and speak with your doctor to learn more about your options.
Next: Learn About Traumatic Knee Injuries
Reference:
1. Handout on Health: Osteoarthritis, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, July 2002.