Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is degenerative condition affecting mostly the elderly, around eight million people in the UK are affected by it.  It commonly occurs in the hip and knee joint as these joints are used more often.   Osteoarthritis occurs as a result of wear and tear to the cartilage and the articular surface becoming weak or thin.  Osteoarthritis occurs with gradual ageing of the joint, but it can also be caused due to a trauma.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the commonest type of inflammatory arthritis affecting nearly 400,000 people in the UK.  The joint suffers with inflammation and swelling caused by the patient’s own immune system.  The most common cause of osteoarthritis is ageing, although there can be other reasons.

People suffering from inflammatory arthritis are usually looked after by a Rheumatologist.  For more information on inflammatory arthritis, you can visit our orthopaedic website www.ilok.info

Treatment for osteoarthritis depends on various factors.  Some of them include extent of the disease, lifestyle, level of activity, other co-morbid conditions, etc.  A consultant will examine the knee and suggest an appropriate treatment plan.

If the OA is in early stage, conservative measures like physiotherapy and/or joint injections are sufficient to relieve the symptoms.

If the OA is in advanced stage, then partial or complete joint replacement may be suggested to eliminate pain and other symptoms and improve range of motion of the joint.

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the first choice of treatment but steroids or anti-inflammatory drugs can also be suggested in some cases.  Joint replacement, either partial or full, is inevitable if the symptoms become unmanageable.  Consult a physician regarding the most appropriate solution for your problems.

You can book an appointment with our Consultant Rheumatologist to get your knee examined if you have osteoarthritis.  You can call us on 98450-54810 or email us at [email protected]