Types of Arthritis that Affect the Knee

Often, when your knee pains without an injury, arthritis could be the reason. You can treat knee arthritis through orthopedic specialists. But the treatment depends on the type of arthritis you suffer. Accordingly, in this blog, let’s look at the various types of arthritis that can affect your knees.

5 Types of Arthritis Affecting the Knee

Many types of arthritis affect the knees. But these five most common types of arthritis can affect your knees and cause complexities, including pain, difficulty in movements, etc.

1. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breaking down articular cartilage, which covers the top of the tibia, femur’s bottom, and the patella’s back. Knee osteoarthritis doesn’t necessarily cause knee pain in everyone. But the patient may experience pain if the loss of the healthy cartilage affects the joint’s biomechanics or causes rubbing of joints against each other.

2.Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes pain, stiffness, tenderness, and swelling. The condition may affect joints in fingers and toes as well. Psoriasis is a skin-related condition. But approximately 18-20 percent of people suffering from psoriasis suffer from psoriatic arthritis. In many cases, psoriasis exists as a condition for years before the patient experiences knee problems.

3.Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis leads to swelling, stiffness, and pain in the knees. If it affects one knee, it is likely to affect the other as well. If not treated in time, rheumatoid arthritis can permanently damage the knee joint. The patient may experience episodes of rheumatoid arthritis, which may also feature fatigue. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect the joints in the wrists and hands as well.

4.Gout

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis. It leads to the build-up of uric acid crystals in the knee joint. The crystals are needle-like structures that collect in the knee joint’s soft tissue, causing excessive pain, warmth, redness, and swelling. Gout usually affects the big toe joint. But one cannot discount the possibility of gout affecting the knee or the body’s other joints.

5.Pseudogout

Pseudogout results from the formation and build-up of microscopic crystals in the joint. They can lead to excruciating knee pain, redness, swelling, and warmth. Although less common than its counterpart, pseudogout is likely to affect the knee joint. It is also addressed as calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) by doctors. That is because the microscopic crystals that lead to pseudogout are calcium pyrophosphate crystals

Some of the generic treatments to treat knee arthritis include the following.

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Applying a heat or ice treatment
• Performing physiotherapy to enhance flexibility, motion, and strength
• Performing low-impact exercises like cycling and swimming.

Nevertheless, you must consult an orthopedic doctor to know the type of arthritis you suffer and the best-suited treatment.

Treat Arthritis with Ranka Hospital

Are you suffering from knee pain and problems due to any of the above arthritis types? Visit Ranka Hospital. Our team of orthopedic specialists will diagnose your condition and prescribe the proper knee arthritis treatment. Call us at +91 20 2426 1600 to book an in-person appointment with our orthopedic doctors.