Knee pain has become quite prevalent worldwide. Many people report consistent knee pain that won’t get better from medication and therapies. Eventually, the orthopedic doctor in Thane recommends surgery to help alleviate the pain. The pain in your knees accompanied by stiffness and swelling is often the sign of osteoarthritis, which occurs due to the wear and tear of the knee joint. Healthcare experts have not found a cure for arthritis yet, but there are quite a few ways you can slow down the progression of the disease.
Arthritis occurs in stages. The longer you leave the issue unaddressed, the higher the risk of the problem progressing rapidly. To help you understand how arthritis progresses, we have explained each stage of arthritis in this post. Keep reading.
Stage 1 — Minor
This is the first stage of arthritis. You might notice mild discomfort, but nothing too severe. The symptoms might occur right after you’ve sustained a knee injury or gradually. Arthritis often goes unnoticed in the first stage, as most healthcare specialists associate the pain with an injury or a normal stiffness that may go away on its own. The orthopedic surgeon will most likely recommend you a few vitamin and mineral supplements, with painkillers to alleviate the pain.
Stage 2 — Mild
The problem persists and starts causing pain. The cartilage begins thinning and you may notice stiffness and mild pain in the affected joint. You might experience discomfort in your knees while walking, stretching, or performing strenuous physical movements. While the cartilage starts wearing at this point, there’s still adequate cartilage left in your knees to cushion bones and prevent them from colliding.
Stage 3 — Moderate
In the third stage, you will notice abnormal pain in your knee joint. The pain and stiffness can be felt when walking, squatting, kneeling, running, and even from prolonged hours of sitting in the same position or resting. You might also observe this pain as you wake up. These symptoms occur because of the cartilage wearing at a rapid pace. In this stage, a patient loses a considerable amount of cartilage, leaving a small gap between the bones, and increasing the risk of the bones touching each other. Pain-reliving medicines won’t work. While therapies and exercises may help alleviate the pain to some extent, these are often not enough.
Stage 4 — Severe
This is the last stage of arthritis. The pain is severe and the cartilage is almost gone. As a result, the bones might touch each other, causing unbearable pain and extreme swelling in your knee joint. Not only that, but you are highly likely to be immobile. If arthritis reaches the fourth stage, you might need knee replacement surgery.
Consult an orthopedic surgeon in Thane to discuss other non-invasive treatment options as well. Surgery, however, is the most reliable and effective option for permanent relief. The surgeon will replace your damaged joints with an artificial joint that lasts for 10-15 years and restore your mobility.
Symptoms of Arthritis
You may not need surgery for arthritis if it’s diagnosed at an early stage. Symptoms appear as the condition progresses. Although symptoms may vary depending on the stage of arthritis, pain and swelling are the most common signs of osteoarthritis. Other signs you might notice are:
- Difficulty in movements (partial or complete immobility)
- Stiff joints
- Swelling and inflammation in the knee joint
- Skin redness
- Extreme pain (that won’t relieve from pain killers and exercises)
- A clicking or snapping sound when walking
The sooner you discuss the problem with a surgeon, the faster you will recover. See an orthopedic doctor immediately if you notice the above symptoms and discuss your treatment plans.
