The knee joint has three bones involved in its structure. They are the thigh bone (femur), the shin bone (tibia) and kneecap (patella). There is cartilage which shields the ends of the bone and a meniscus, which is a pad of cushioning tissue in the middle. Muscles and tendons keep everything in the proper alignment.
There are two main types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is more common in older people. This is because over time, repeated use of the joint can cause cartilage to wear away. The ends of the bones can become jagged and uneven, increasing pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the meniscus and the cartilage to become inflamed and this leads to pain and stiffness.
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.
Creams and lotions are also good ways to treat knee pain. There are creams and wraps which can heat a joint and ease symptoms. There are also creams which ease knee pain without heating the joint and this can be a great choice if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Exercise can help you maintain joint function but you need to make sure you are on an exercise routine which does not stress or damage the joints further.
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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