Arthritis, or degenerative osteoarthritis, of the knee is caused by long term wear and tear to the cartilage that naturally cushions the knee joint. This causes the bones in the joint to rub together and cause permanent damage.
In some cases, arthritis can also be triggered – or made worse – by a knee injury that damages a particular area – this is known as ‘traumatic osteoarthritis’ and can often happen as a result of sporting activities.
Although knee arthritis can affect anyone, it’s more likely to develop if your parents or siblings have had the condition or if you’ve previously had an injury or operation on your knee. It’s also more likely to be a problem if you:
These include:
As arthritis develops, symptoms become worse. In some cases, walking may become more difficult and you may also be in pain at night.
Your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you and examine your knee to check for tenderness, stiffness, swelling and any difficulties with movement. In most cases, they will arrange for you to have an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis of arthritis. They may also arrange for you to have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to show any damage to the soft tissue (cartilage, tendons and muscles) in your knee.
Treatment depends on a number of factors including how much the arthritis is affecting your everyday life and activities, as well as how worn the knee joint has become.
