Contrary to popular belief, consistent knee pain is not a normal sign of aging. While it’s normal to feel occasional aches, twinges and pops from exercise, sports, and daily activities, knee pain that’s severe or occurring most days of the month warrants a medical checkup.
Persistent knee pain could be an indicator of an underlying condition like arthritis. Arthritis — a chronic condition — is the primary cause of knee pain among adults. While there is no cure for arthritis, the right treatments can help you live a healthy, active lifestyle.
But effective treatment requires early identification and diagnosis. Keep reading to learn the early warning signs of arthritis and decide if it’s time to call your doctor for an evaluation.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a broad term that describes joint pain, inflammation or disease. It’s not a single disease — doctors have identified over 100 different forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common forms of joint disease.
- Osteoarthritis (OA). OA (also called wear and tear arthritis) is a degenerative condition that develops when the cartilage covering joint surfaces begins to degenerate. As the disease progresses, OA causes progressive damage to the cartilage, underlying bone, and soft tissues that support the joint. OA commonly affects large, weight-bearing joints like the knees. Age, wear and tear, repetitive movements, past joint injuries, obesity and genetics are the primary risk factors for developing OA.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disease that develops when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own joint tissues. As the disease progresses, RA causes progressive damage to the cartilage, bone, and soft tissues that support the joint. RA usually begins in small joints in the fingers and toes, then spreads to larger joints like the knees. Age, genetics, a family history, and obesity are the primary risk factors for developing RA.
Women are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Early Signs and Symptoms
Although specific types of arthritis have different symptoms, there are common signs that indicate your knee pain is due to underlying arthritis. If you’re experiencing the following symptoms, it’s time to pay a visit to your doctor:
- Pain. Joint pain is the most common sign of arthritis. It can be a constant ache or it can come and go. The severity and type of pain varies depending on the form of arthritis you have. Some people feel more pain after a lot of movement, after temperature/weather changes, or during stressful situations. You might also have tenderness to the touch around the knee.
- Stiffness. Stiffness is another classic symptom of arthritis, especially morning stiffness. If you have knee arthritis, you may find it takes anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour to get the joint moving properly in the morning. Stiffness can also creep in after spending a long period sitting or riding in a car.
- Swelling. Arthritis can cause redness, swelling and warmth over the affected joint. If swelling occurs more than a few days a month, it’s time to see your doctor for an evaluation.
- Decreased movement. Pain, swelling, stiffness and inflammation cause restricted movement and difficulty moving the joint through its full range of motion. If you have knee arthritis, you may start having difficulty standing up from your chair, getting out of the car or climbing stairs.
Arthritis pain and symptoms typically worsen in severity and frequency as the disease progresses.
Diagnosis and Treatment
During an evaluation for arthritis, your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical exam. He or she will assess your knee joint for pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, warmth and current range of motion. Your doctor may request additional testing to make an accurate diagnosis:
- Imaging exams. An imaging exam like an X-ray, CT scan or MRI can help your doctor visualize the painful joint and look for inflammation, bone damage, cartilage loss, bone spurs and other signs of arthritis.
- Laboratory tests. Your doctor may take samples of your blood, urine and/or joint fluid to run laboratory tests. Analyzing body fluids can help determine what type of arthritis you have.
Arthritis is a chronic condition, but it’s manageable with the right treatment plan. Your doctor may recommend a combination of treatments that can be adjusted until you find the right fit. A typical knee arthritis treatment plan includes:
- Medications
- Therapeutic injections
- Physical therapy
- Assistive devices
- Exercise and weight management
The treatments listed above can slow the progression of arthritis, but they can’t prevent or reverse joint damage. Eventually, pain, stiffness and joint damage may be significant enough that surgery is recommended. If you reach that point, your doctor will discuss your surgical options with you beforehand.
When Is It Time to Contact iO-Core?
If you’re experiencing chronic pain and loss of mobility from arthritis or a non-healing knee injury, or if you’ve been told that joint replacement surgery is the only treatment option left for you, contact iO-Core™.
Our clinics administer the iO-Core™ procedure, a minimally invasive procedure that combines orthopedics and biologics to treat degenerating cartilage and underlying bone and tissue damage caused by arthritis and joint injuries. Many people who were told they needed a total joint replacement surgery have found long-term pain relief and greater mobility from iO-Core™ instead.
If traditional treatment methods aren’t effective for your pain, iO-Core™ may be a viable option. The procedure is covered by most insurances. Contact our team today to learn more and see if you qualify.
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