Arthritis in the knee entails inflammation within the knee joint, posing challenges to everyday activities.
Among the 100-plus arthritis variations, knee arthritis is predominantly attributed to osteoarthritis, where the cartilage gradually erodes, leading to bone-on-bone contact.
Causes of Knee Arthritis
- Knee injuries — arthritis can manifest years after a meniscus or ligament tear.
- Rheumatoid arthritis — immune system aggression softens knee bones.
- Osteoarthritis — cartilage depletion from regular use results in knee osteoarthritis.
Risk Factors for Knee Arthritis
- Age — usually affects those over 50.
- Gender — women have a higher vulnerability.
- Repetitive motions — cartilage wear from repetitive movements heightens knee arthritis risk.
- Low bone density
Symptoms of Knee Arthritis
Knee arthritis symptoms encompass:
- Stiff, swollen knee that’s challenging to bend
- Morning or post-inactivity pain
- Heightened discomfort, stiffness, and swelling during rainy weather
- Aggravated pain during vigorous activity
Diagnosis of Knee Arthritis
Diagnosed through a thorough physical with your orthopedic physician.
Examination includes:
- Knee joint tenderness or swelling
- Limited range of motion
- Knee joint instability
Signs of surrounding muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries
Diagnostic tests, like x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs, might be ordered to assess bone and soft tissue condition. Blood tests could be conducted if rheumatoid arthritis is suspected.
Treatments for Knee Arthritis
Given the absence of a cure, the treatment objective is symptom relief, joint preservation, and sustaining activity levels.
- Nonsurgical Knee Arthritis Treatments
- Rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications
- Lifestyle adjustments — minimizing impact activities, trying lower impact sports, losing weight.
- Corticosteroid injections — reducing pain and swelling via anti-inflammatory injections.
- Physical therapy — exercises to enhance knee flexibility and range of motion.
- Bracing — stabilizing and supporting knee function.
- Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs — halting rheumatoid arthritis progression.
Surgical Knee Arthritis Treatments
- Cartilage grafting — transferring healthy cartilage to damaged areas.
- Synovectomy — removing knee joint lining to alleviate pain and swelling.
- Knee osteotomy — reshaping tibia or femur to alleviate pressure and improve function.
- Knee replacement (arthroscopy) — replacing damaged cartilage with metal or plastic joint.
Recovery from Knee Arthritis
Recovery time varies based on procedure type and rehabilitation intensity. Most patients can resume daily activities following knee surgery procedures.
Special procedures are done at our clinics:
We perform PRP injections for early arthritis of the knee and other joints. This involves separating platelets from your blood and injecting them into the joint. Platelets are rich in growth factors that help regenerate the damage caused by arthritis.
In certain types of arthritis where the inflammatory process is the predominant cause of arthritis, Steroids are considered suitable for halting the inflammation in the joint.
Post-op care:
The doctor will discuss specific post-procedure care after the injections are performed.
Who is Performing this surgery at our clinics:
Most of our doctors perform this surgery at all clinics. Please call our reception staff to check availability or send an email to the address provided below.
Paragon – Dr Sanjeev Sabharwal
Murray Bridge – Dr Sanjeev Sabharwal
Tailem Bend- Dr Sanjeev Sabharwal
Charges:
In addition to the Medicare rebate, a gap of $550 for PRP and $50 for steroid injections is payable on the day of surgery. Once you pay the total amount, our staff will assist you in getting the Medicare rebate back to your account via Easyclaim.
Referrals:
GPs and allied health can refer your client to us by emailing or faxing the details at:
Email- specialists@solitaire.team
Fax- 08 8263 1519
Healthlink referral- modnthmc