Arthritis Knee Pain: Top Ways To Treat The Condition

Arthritis is a disease which causes pain and damage to the body’s joints. Any joint can be affected, and all will cause different quality of life issues. One of the problems that affects many sufferers is arthritis knee pain. There are different causes for this pain depending on the type of arthritis that you have.

Did you know that the knee is made up of many different parts? There are three bones: the femur, the tibia and the patella. There is cushioning in the form of cartilage and a meniscus. Cartilage covers the ends of the bone and the underside of the kneecap. The meniscus acts like a pillow between the femur and tibia and provides cushioning.

There are other ways to treat knee pain but it is important to know what kind of arthritis you have since the way they affect the joints is very different. Osteoarthritis affects the bones and cartilage because of overuse or injury. Rheumatoid arthritis is a result of the body’s immune system attacking the joints. It damages and inflames the meniscus. Osteoarthritis tends to be an ongoing process whereas rheumatoid arthritis can have periods where the disease flares up and gets worse, and other periods where it is in remission and symptoms improve.

One of the best ways to treat arthritic knee pain is through the use of anti-inflammatories. NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and they include naproxyn, aspirin and ibuprofen. They treat the pain and inflammation, but not the underlying cause. Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers may require DMARDs, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs to treat the disease and keep joint damage from getting worse. These include methotrexate, azathioprine and others. They are serious medications that may have significant side effects and should be used carefully.

You may find that if your knees are the only joints affected, the pain may be a result of a knee injury that was improperly diagnosed or treated. If you speak with your doctor, they can perform tests such as x-rays in order to check the state of the knee. If damaged cartilage is suspected, the doctor may perform a scope to check the cartilage in the knees. It can be repaired or removed if it is damaged. You want to make sure that full joint replacement is a treatment of last resort because of the length of time it takes to recover.

Other non medical means of treatment can include heat wraps and arthritis creams. These can soothe sore joints and provide some relief. Remember that you should never heat a joint that has been affected by rheumatoid arthritis. You want to calm the heat that is in the joint, not add to it. You also want to make sure you are continuing to use the joint since letting it become immobile will not help and you will end up with more severe problems down the road. Arthritis websites or a rheumatologist can help you establish a safe and effective exercise routine.

It can be hard to live with knee pain but if you treat it properly it can be manageable. If you want to avoid surgery there are a number of treatment options that can make your life better and much more comfortable over time.

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