Arthritis, specifically osteoarthritis, is the wear-and-tear breakdown of cartilage in your joints. Healthy cartilage is important in the knee because it acts as a shock absorber between the thighbone and the shinbone. When this cartilage breaks down, bone spurs form, which can cause pain, swelling and inflammation in the knee. There is no cure for osteoarthritis. But there are treatment options ranging from exercise to surgery to alleviate the pain and inflammation.
Regular Exercise
Regular, low-impact, daily exercise is the first step in preventing and treating knee arthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Light resistance training, biking or using the elliptical machine will strengthen the quadriceps, or the large thigh muscles in the front of the upper legs, and the hamstrings, or the muscle in the back of the upper leg. The additional muscle mass provides support and helps absorb shock to the knee joint. Furthermore, exercise increases the flexibility of the knee joint and prevents it from becoming stiff. Finally, exercise can assist in weight management. Losing a few pounds can significantly reduce arthritis symptoms in the knee.
Medications
Medication can be prescribed to treat the symptoms of knee arthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic. In addition, acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications can be purchased over-the-counter. NSAIDs can be more effective than acetaminophen because they reduce inflammation. Topical capsaicin cream can also be applied as directed to reduce symptoms. Medline Plus says that capsaicin cream should be applied regularly for three to seven days to yield improvement.
In more severe cases a doctor may injected a corticosteroid directly into the knee joint, according to the Mayo Clinic. This medication reduces the inflammation and relieves symptoms. But there are limits to the number of injections that you can have per year because of long-term side effects.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can also help improve the symptoms of knee arthritis, according to Medline Plus. A physical therapist helps the patient do exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee. In addition, a physical therapist can use alternative treatments, such as ice massage, heat therapy or water therapy to treat symptoms.
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary when walking becomes severely limited because of knee arthritis. A surgeon will look for large bone spurs, or abnormal bone growth in the the knee. Knee replacement involves removing the arthritic knee and implanting a synthetic one. A knee replacement will reduce symptoms, increase your mobility and allow you to return to healthy levels of physical activity. There is a small risk with knee replacement surgery, but following the doctor's pre-surgical and post-surgical plan can greatly reduce these risks.
