Knee Osteoarthritis Quick Links:
Knee Osteoarthritis; who gets it and why?
In the UK, around eight and a half million people suffer from knee osteoarthritis. I often see this disease developing in people from the mid to late ’40s. It is found to be more common in women than in men; in fact, women are 40% more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis as opposed to the 10% increased risk of developing hip osteoarthritis.
Causes and factors of knee osteoarthritis include;
- Age – As we age, the risk of developing OA increases.
- Abnormalities within the joint – Factors such as impingement can cause early-onset OA.
- Environmental – work, sports and diet etc.
- Gender – Knee OA is more common in women than men.
- Genetics – Those with family members suffering from OA are also more likely to develop it.
- Joint Injury – Any injury relating to the cartilage, ligament or bone within a joint can lead to OA.
- Overuse – Sporting professionals such as tennis players, for example, may also experience early onset OA.
- Obesity – Extra weight and strain in the hip joint increase your risk of knee OA.
- Muscle weakness – Lack of core strength leads us to rely on our joints more, which can increase our chances of knee OA.
Knee Osteoarthritis; who gets it and why?
In the UK, around eight and a half million people suffer from knee osteoarthritis. I often see this disease developing in people from the mid to late ’40s. It is found to be more common in women than in men; in fact, women are 40% more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis as opposed to the 10% increased risk of developing hip osteoarthritis.
Causes and factors of knee osteoarthritis include;
- Age – As we age, the risk of developing OA increases.
- Abnormalities within the joint – Factors such as impingement can cause early-onset OA.
- Environmental – work, sports and diet etc.
- Gender – Knee OA is more common in women than men.
- Genetics – Those with family members suffering from OA are also more likely to develop it.
- Joint Injury – Any injury relating to the cartilage, ligament or bone within a joint can lead to OA.
- Overuse – Sporting professionals such as tennis players, for example, may also experience early onset OA.
- Obesity – Extra weight and strain in the hip joint increase your risk of knee OA.
- Muscle weakness – Lack of core strength leads us to rely on our joints more, which can increase our chances of knee OA.
Signs and symptoms of knee Osteoarthritis
Symptoms are likely to build over time and may not cause concern until the later stages. Symptoms are staged as such;
Stage 1 – Onset: Wear & tear and/or bone spur growths develop at the end of the knee joints making a noticeable difference in mobility when attempting to move after a long rest period. Stiffness may occur after sitting for an evening in front of the TV or getting out of bed in the morning. Often in stage one, you feel no pain, although you may ache more than usual after a day of exercise, long walks, gardening etc.
Stage 2 – Mild knee Osteoarthritis: Movement becomes more strained, and you notice more swelling around the joint. You may even catch yourself being more restless, and finding a comfortable sleeping position is becoming difficult.
Stage 3 – Moderate knee Osteoarthritis: The imperfections within the bone cause cartilage damage resulting in more pain. Resting your joints does not relieve discomfort. Instead, you start to source stronger pain relief and medical guidance.
Stage 4 – Chronic knee Osteoarthritis: The joint space between the bones is considerably reduced with little or no cartilage left; your pain is now chronic, and you have no relief without prescribed medication. You find it hard to complete daily activities and tasks without aid.
Signs and symptoms of knee Osteoarthritis
Symptoms are likely to build over time and may not cause concern until the later stages. Symptoms are staged as such;
Stage 1 – Onset: Wear & tear and/or bone spur growths develop at the end of the knee joints making a noticeable difference in mobility when attempting to move after a long rest period. Stiffness may occur after sitting for an evening in front of the TV or getting out of bed in the morning. Often in stage one, you feel no pain, although you may ache more than usual after a day of exercise, long walks, gardening etc.
Stage 2 – Mild knee Osteoarthritis: Movement becomes more strained, and you notice more swelling around the joint. You may even catch yourself being more restless, and finding a comfortable sleeping position is becoming difficult.
Stage 3 – Moderate knee Osteoarthritis: The imperfections within the bone cause cartilage damage resulting in more pain. Resting your joints does not relieve discomfort. Instead, you start to source stronger pain relief and medical guidance.
Stage 4 – Chronic knee Osteoarthritis: The joint space between the bones is considerably reduced with little or no cartilage left; your pain is now chronic, and you have no relief without prescribed medication. You find it hard to complete daily activities and tasks without aid.
When should I seek help for knee Osteoarthritis?
More often than not, patients only reach out to me after reaching stage 3; however, the earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome.
Early measures can be put in place to prevent further damage to the knee joint; these include weight loss, walking aids and a therapy program.
You may also be eligible for ultrasound-guided injections depending on the stage of knee OA you are experiencing. Beyond these measures comes knee replacement surgery.
When should I seek help for knee Osteoarthritis?
More often than not, patients only reach out to me after reaching stage 3; however, the earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome.
Early measures can be put in place to prevent further damage to the knee joint; these include weight loss, walking aids and a therapy program.
You may also be eligible for ultrasound-guided injections depending on the stage of knee OA you are experiencing. Beyond these measures comes knee replacement surgery.
Knee Osteoarthritis surgery
Over 100,000 people here in the UK undergo a knee replacement known as knee arthroplasty. Replacements are considered for damaged, worn or diseased knee joint/s. Here I specialise in custom-made knee implants, personalised to the patient’s anatomy, offering a greater success rate, unlike the traditional knee replacement in which patients report 80% satisfaction.
Where knee Osteoarthritis is the sole cause of chronic pain, the knee joint needs replacing; we can discuss this surgery further.
Our 3D planned patient-specific anatomic implants are offered as standard practice in my surgery. I also use anatomically shaped implants that match 95% of the population, provided to those who fit the criteria.
These customised implants increase our success rate and decrease patients’ recovery time.
Knee replacement recovery
Knee replacement is still considered major surgery and can involve lengthy recovery time, but the benefits are massive.
Physiotherapy is enrolled within your treatment plan and will start before your outpatient appointment at two weeks post-op and last a minimum of 6 months.
If our treatment plans are followed through correctly, you should expect to be returning to work (light duties) after 4 to 6 weeks and a full return after eight weeks.
Knee Osteoarthritis surgery
Over 100,000 people here in the UK undergo a knee replacement known as knee arthroplasty. Replacements are considered for damaged, worn or diseased knee joint/s. Here I specialise in custom-made knee implants, personalised to the patient’s anatomy, offering a greater success rate, unlike the traditional knee replacement in which patients report 80% satisfaction.
Where knee Osteoarthritis is the sole cause of chronic pain, the knee joint needs replacing; we can discuss this surgery further.
Our 3D planned patient-specific anatomic implants are offered as standard practice in my surgery. I also use anatomically shaped implants that match 95% of the population, provided to those who fit the criteria.
These customised implants increase our success rate and decrease patients’ recovery time.
Knee replacement recovery
Knee replacement is still considered major surgery and can involve lengthy recovery time, but the benefits are massive.
Physiotherapy is enrolled within your treatment plan and will start before your outpatient appointment at two weeks post-op and last a minimum of 6 months.
If our treatment plans are followed through correctly, you should expect to be returning to work (light duties) after 4 to 6 weeks and a full return after eight weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have compiled answers to several faqs for each procedure: