Even though age is the most compelling risk factor for knee osteoarthritis, people of any age can get it while for some people, it is absolutely hereditary. Osteoarthritis which is generally referred to as wear-and-tear arthritis is an ailment where the cushioning between the joints and cartilage starts wearing away. As this happens, the joint bones rub against each other without the shock-absorbing advantages of cartilage. This invariably results in terrific pain, stiffness, swelling which paves the way for reduced ability to move and formation of bone spurs.

How is the osteoarthritis of the knee diagnosed?
In most cases, the osteoarthritis of the knee starts with the physical exam taken by an expert. The doctor would also take the medical history and make a note of your physical symptoms. You should be able to relate to your doctor what makes the symptoms worse and what helps in bettering the condition. It is important to consider whether anyone in your family has arthritis of the knees. It may be needful to take some additional tests including:

• X-rays of the bones and cartilage that can show any signs of damage and presence of bone spurs.
• MRI or magnetic resonance imaging: It may be ordered when the X-rays fails to offer any clear reason for the joint pain or when it says that the tissues in the joint can be damaged.
• Doctors may also recommend certain blood tests for ruling out other conditions which could be causing symptoms similar to knee osteoarthritis.

What are the knee osteoarthritis treatment options?
The main goals of knee osteoarthritis treatment are in relieving the pain and returning the full state of mobility. The treatment plan normally includes a combination or any of the following:

Weight loss treatment: You will be surprised to know that losing even a small amount of weight can decrease the knee osteoarthritis to a significant extent.

Workout: When you are under the knee osteoarthritis treatment, it becomes important to strengthen the muscles in the knee. This would help in making the joint more stable and reduce the pain. There are numerous strengthening workouts that help in keeping the joint mobile and flexible.

Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs: The medications for k nee osteoarthritis treatment include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen sodium and others. But you should bear in mind that these medicines should not be taken for more than 10 days. This is because they can give way to unwanted side effects and in case these medicines fail to provide relief then your doctor may recommend some more powerful anti-inflammatory drug which can ease the pain.

Corticosteroid injections: Steroids are considered immensely powerful anti-inflammatory drugs and you can also take hyaluronic acid injections for lubricating the joints and ease discomfort.

Alternative therapies: This may include topical creams with high amounts of capsaicin, supplements with chondroitin and glucosamine and acupuncture.

Braces: Using devices like braces can help in healing knee osteoarthritis to a significant extent. Two types of braces are available where the “support” braces can offer support to the entire knee while the “ unloader ” braces can take the weight away from the sides which can reduce the inflammation.

Physical therapies: Some people with knee osteoarthritis have trouble with daily activities and in case you are one of them, physical and occupational therapy can be of immense help to you. The physical therapists would help you to strengthen the muscles and improve the flexibility of the joints. On the other hand, occupational therapists can show you how to perform day to day activities without much pain.

Surgical interventions: When all these above methods fail to offer substantial relief, then surgery is the only knee osteoarthritis treatment that must be undertaken.

What are the surgical treatments for knee osteoarthritis?
In case your doctor wants to treat the knee osteoarthritis with surgical interventions, then there are three primary options including osteotomy , arthroplasty , and arthroscopy. Here is a brief description of how each goes:

Osteotomy : It is a process which aims at bettering the knee alignment better by altering the shape of the bones. This kind of operation is recommended when the damage has occurred to a single area of the knee. It is also suggested when a person has broken the knee and it has not healed properly. But it is important to understand that it is not a permanent solution and further procedures may be required.

Arthroplasty or joint replacement surgery: This is a surgical procedure where the knee joints are replaced with artificial ones that are created from bio-compatible metals or plastic. It could involve either side of the knee or the whole of it. It is generally recommended for people aged over 50 with severe osteoarthritis.

Arthroscopy: In this process, a small telescope is used and the surgery is performed through tiny incisions. The doctor uses the arthroscope to see the various parts of the joints and fixing them and it is usually recommended for younger people.

These are the possible knee osteoarthritis treatment that can help in improving the discomfort of the knees. It is very important not only to take care of your diet but also be health conscious to avoid this ailment.