| Joint cartilage wearing away in the knee joint is a | | | | advice. Osteoarthritis of the knee is typically diagnosed |
| painful condition called osteoarthritis of the knee. It is | | | | after examining the leg and viewing x-rays to |
| the most common type of osteoarthritis, and can have | | | | determine how advanced the degeneration has |
| many causes. | | | | become. |
| When there is a meeting of the two bones, or joint of | | | | The first course of action after making the diagnosis |
| the knee, there is a cushiony cartilage between the | | | | of osteoarthritis of the knee will be to alleviate the pain. |
| two that serves to pad the area and prevent the two | | | | Medication will generally be prescribed, along with |
| bones from rubbing against one another. In some | | | | some topical applications for pain. Addressing the |
| cases, the cushion wears away, creating friction every | | | | source of the pain will be next; physical therapy is |
| time the joint is used as the two bones rub against | | | | found to be quite helpful as flexibility and movement of |
| each other. The consistent rubbing will cause | | | | the joint is regained. In serious cases, hyaluronic acid |
| inflammation, pain, stiffness or the formation of bone | | | | injections or knee surgery may be recommended. |
| spurs. This condition is referred to as degenerative | | | | Our knee joints have hyaluronic acid in place already. |
| joint disease, or osteoarthritis of the knee. | | | | However, through the degeneration caused by |
| Many causes can be attributed to the development of | | | | osteoarthritis of the knee, it becomes thinner and less |
| osteoarthritis of the knee. An injury to the joint that | | | | effective. By injecting addition hyaluronic acid into the |
| may have occurred by wrenching it during a fall, | | | | joint, more protection is afforded the area; resulting in |
| accident or while playing a sport can be one of the | | | | the elimination of pain that can last up to a year. While |
| causes of the disorder. Often obesity is the reason | | | | these injections have great results for some, for |
| that the cushion wears away. Genetics may make it | | | | others there is no benefit at all. It is estimated that |
| more likely for some people to develop the | | | | approximately one of every four people with |
| degeneration than others. | | | | osteoarthritis of the knee will eventually require surgery. |
| The disorder is often noted by the sufferer himself, | | | | This may be accomplished by arthroscopy, osteotomy |
| experiencing pain that worsens as the joint is used. | | | | or arthroplasty. |
| Resting the knee will bring relief from the pain at least | | | | A preventative measure to protect from acquiring |
| initially, but as the degeneration progresses, the pain | | | | osteoarthritis of the knee is to retain a healthy weight. |
| becomes more prevalent with little or no relief. It is | | | | Also, act promptly in seeking medical attention if an |
| usually at this point that the individual seeks a doctor's | | | | injury results in knee pain to avoid further degeneration. |