Millions of Americans suffer from chronic or acute knee pain every year.
Getting a proper diagnosis and receiving the needed treatments can be difficult without knowing the cause of your pain.
Many conditions can mimic one another, so it’s important to seek a medical professional’s advice if you have been battling knee pain.
Arthritis is a prevalent cause of knee pain, and there are a few ways to tell if arthritis is causing your pain.
In the article below, we will answer the question: what does arthritis in the knee feel like?
Arthritis and Knee Pain
Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more of your joints.
Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness are the main symptoms of arthritis.
Arthritis can affect any joint in your body, but your knee is particularly vulnerable.
Having arthritis in your knee can make it difficult for you to perform everyday activities, like climbing stairs or walking to the mailbox.
While there are many types of arthritis, the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of knee arthritis.
Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease caused by wear and tear.
It’s the most common type of arthritis that occurs most often in people over 50, although younger people can get it as well.
The cartilage in your knee joint gradually wears away, and as it wears away, it becomes frayed and rough, and the protective space between the bones decreases.
This often leads to bone rubbing on bone and produces painful bone spurs.
Knee osteoarthritis typically develops slowly, and the pain will worsen over time.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that can attack several joints in your body, including the knee joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is also symmetrical, meaning it will affect the same joint on both sides of your body.
With rheumatoid arthritis, you will experience joint swelling, resulting in pain and stiffness in your knee joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system attacks its own tissues.
Your immune system damages normal tissue, like the cartilage and ligaments in your knee, and softens the bone.
What Does Arthritis In The Knee Feel Like?
We put an enormous amount of pressure and strain on our knees day after day and year after year.
It should come as no surprise that knee pain is a widespread complaint for people of all ages.
Fortunately, knee pain is usually temporary and relatively harmless for most people.
But if you think your knee pain or joint damage could be caused by arthritis, there are a few telltale signs and symptoms to watch for.
In some cases, arthritic knee pain can show up suddenly, but arthritis typically causes a gradual onset and progression of its symptoms.
Stiff knee and limited range of motion in the joints are one of the classic symptoms of arthritis, and the majority of arthritic patients will experience stiffness in their knees.
The stiffness is especially noticeable after extended periods of inactivity, like sleeping, watching TV, or long rides in the car.
Day-to-day stiffness can occur at similar times, but stiffness associated with arthritis is longer-lasting and more pronounced.
Swelling, redness, warmth, and tenderness around the joint may occur in patients with several varieties of arthritis.
This is typically caused by fluid in the joint or a range of other issues.
People who develop arthritis in their knees will find that activities that were once simple and routine will become difficult to do without limitations or pain and discomfort.
People with arthritis will find everyday things like walking, running, or getting in and out of a car very challenging.
The damage and loss of cartilage caused by arthritis are normally to blame for this.
Home Remedies For Arthritis Knee Pain
Fortunately, there are some home remedies you can try if you’re battling arthritic knee pain.
Your options will include:
- weight loss and weight management
- physical activity like walking, cycling, and water exercise
- heat and cold pads to relieve pain and swelling
- topical creams like capsaicin
- using a cane or walker for balance
- using a knee brace
- acupuncture
- cognitive behavioral therapy
- Painkilling drugs like ibuprofen or aspirin to reduce pain and inflammation in the short-term
- corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation
The home remedies you can use will depend on the type of arthritis you have.
For example, people who play an active role in managing their condition are likely to see a more positive outcome.
Learning about your arthritis and becoming aware of what improves or worsens your symptoms, and making decisions with your doctor is a great way to manage your pain.
There’s no cure for arthritis or arthritis pain, but proper treatments can relieve your symptoms, slow the progress of the disease, and reduce your risk of complications.
When To See Your Doctor
There are treatments available from your doctor is the home remedies aren’t enough.
The earlier you seek treatment, the better off you will be.
Seeking treatment as soon as you can will help you avoid surgery down the road.
You should see ee your doctor if:
- your pain or inflammation are not responding to home treatments
- your symptoms get worse, or you develop other symptoms like a fever
- your symptoms affect your daily life
Your doctor will ask you many questions about your pain during your initial appointment, like how it affects your life, when it occurs, and how bad it gets.
They will also ask you to rate your pain on a scale from 1 to 10.
They will also review your medical history, complete a physical exam, perform imaging tests to identify the cause of pain and mobility loss and conduct blood tests for other conditions that may be causing your joint pain.
Find Chronic Knee Pain Treatment Near You
Knee pain from arthritis may feel several different ways depending on what type of arthritis you have.
If you are experiencing knee pain that won’t go away or continues to get worse and you’re afraid it could be arthritis, you should see a doctor right away.
After an accurate diagnosis is made, they will discuss your treatment options.
Quick treatment can prevent short-term knee issues from becoming long-term, chronic pain.
No one should suffer from chronic knee pain, especially when the Ethos Health Group is here to help.
Ethos Health Group has developed a proprietary HyalRegen-CT method as a comprehensive solution for people experiencing symptoms of knee arthritis and pain.
Lubricating injections can be performed under precision imaging guidance, so we know we’re targeting the right area precisely.
This advanced medical process serves to add cushioning fluid back into the knee, like oil for a squeaky hinge.
These FDA-cleared injections can help your knees stimulate more of their natural fluid, giving you long-term benefits and relief.
This procedure is often combined with our regenerative injections that contain Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes.
Most people with knee pain have heard of stem cell therapy, and they wonder if it could be an option to help them avoid surgery and get out of pain.
If you would like to learn more about knee pain treatment at Ethos Health Group, click the button below to schedule your appointment.
