Cartilage Building Block Injections for Knee Arthritis
Omaha Orthopedic Animation by Dr. Darren Keiser MD
Cartilage Building Block Injections for Knee Arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. Pain, swelling, and stiffness are the primary symptoms of arthritis. Any joint in the body may be affected by the disease, but it is particularly common in the knee.
Knee arthritis can make it hard to do many everyday activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. It is a major cause of lost work time and a serious disability for many people.
The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but there are more than 100 different forms. In 2012, more than 51 million people reported that they had been diagnosed with some form of arthritis, according to the National Health Interview Survey. While arthritis is mainly an adult disease, some forms affect children.
Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are many treatment options available to help manage pain and keep people staying active.
Knee Arthritis Symptoms
A knee joint affected by arthritis may be painful and inflamed. Generally, the pain develops gradually over time, although sudden onset is also possible. There are other symptoms, as well:
> The joint may become stiff and swollen, making it difficult to bend and straighten the knee.
> Pain and swelling may be worse in the morning, or after sitting or resting.
> Vigorous activity may cause pain to flare up.
> Loose fragments of cartilage and other tissue can interfere with the smooth motion of joints. The knee may “lock” or “stick” during movement. It may creak, click, snap or make a grinding noise (crepitus).
> Pain may cause a feeling of weakness or buckling in the knee.
> Many people with arthritis note increased joint pain with rainy weather.