Of the 14 million Americans with knee osteoarthritis, nearly 2 million are under the age of 45. At Samimi Orthopedic Group, Babak Samimi, MD, and David Eldringhoff, MD, have extensive experience treating arthritis in people of all ages. They offer nonsurgical treatments to preserve your knees as long as possible and specialize in minimally invasive surgeries when advanced arthritis causes constant pain and disability. To schedule an appointment, call one of the Los Angeles area offices in Brentwood, West Covina, or Sherman Oaks, California, or book online today.
Your knee may develop:
Osteoarthritis, the most common type of knee arthritis, develops as daily wear and tear gradually breaks down cartilage at the ends of bones. As the cartilage wears away, the underlying bone becomes damaged, and inflammation develops.
This type of arthritis begins when your immune system attacks the joints and causes inflammation in the synovial tissues. The ongoing inflammation gradually erodes bones in the joint and causes deformities.
PTA refers to osteoarthritis that develops after you suffer an acute injury. PTA differs from osteoarthritis because the trauma makes the joint degenerate more rapidly.
All three types of arthritis cause knee pain, stiffness, and limited movement. The pain typically feels worse in the morning and when you engage in bending activities such as kneeling or climbing stairs.
Inflammation may lead to swelling and fatigue. People with rheumatoid arthritis may also develop inflammatory conditions throughout their bodies. As a result, they might experience symptoms in their eyes, lungs, and blood vessels.
Your provider creates a customized treatment plan to relieve your pain and maintain joint movement as long as possible. Your treatment may include:
Exercise eases your pain, reduces inflammation, and maintains joint mobility. It also strengthens the muscles supporting the joint and helps slow down progressive joint damage. Your provider develops an exercise plan to relieve your arthritis symptoms without adding stress to the joint.
Carrying extra weight raises your risk of knee osteoarthritis and accelerates its progression. Being 10 pounds overweight increases the force on your knees by 30-60 pounds whenever you take a step.
Knee osteoarthritis may improve with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroid or hyaluronic acid injections. In addition, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections promote healing for all types of knee arthritis.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, early treatment with today's advanced disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can put your disease into remission and stop progressive joint damage.
Wearing orthotic shoes or a brace helps absorb pressure and reduce the stress on your knees.
As your arthritis progresses and causes more joint damage, your provider may recommend surgery to remove damaged tissues, reshape the bones, or replace the joint. You may qualify for a total or partial knee replacement, depending on the extent of the joint damage.
If you need relief from knee arthritis symptoms, call Samimi Orthopedic Group or book an appointment online today.
