General Information About Knee Osteoarthritis
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the wearing away and breaking down of the smooth cartilage surface in the knee joint, exposing the underlying bone, and the body's reaction of forming sharp bony spurs (osteophytes) at the edges of the bone.
Advanced age and aging are the most natural causes. However, excess weight (increased load on the knee), genetic predisposition, rheumatic diseases, and untreated meniscus/cruciate ligament tears from the past accelerate the wear and tear.
Pain that increases when bending the knee or climbing stairs, morning stiffness in the knee, crunching (crepitus) sounds coming from the knee, joint swelling, and, over time, a bow-legged (O-shape) bending of the legs.
It is clearly seen and diagnosed on a two-way knee X-ray taken while the patient is standing and bearing weight, where the cartilage space between the bones is visibly narrowed or completely closed.
Losing weight is the most effective initial treatment. Exercises to strengthen the front thigh muscles (quadriceps), painkillers, and lubricating hyaluronic acid or PRP injections applied into the joint slow down the process.
If the patient can no longer walk, climb stairs, or sleep at night due to pain, and the cartilage is completely gone; removing the damaged joint surfaces and replacing them with a titanium artificial joint (Total Knee Replacement) is the permanent solution.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
