Osteoarthritis

Patient A 

Patient A came in to physio after 1 month of pain on the outside of their knee. It was getting worse. They described radiation of pain down the shin and up to their hip. Their lower back was getting sore now. The pain around their knee felt sharp, and clunky, but also with a deep ache that lingered constantly. They found themselves having difficulty standing up from a chair, bringing the leg into the car, even laying down was uncomfortable. Patient A has osteoarthritis in their knee.  

Patient B 

Patient B came in to physio after 3 weeks of pain on the inside of their knee. The muscles of their shin and thigh had become tense and sore. Their knee was starting to become swollen and stiff, particularly in the morning. Walking was becoming very difficult. They found that panadol osteo was quite helpful, but a period of stiffness in the morning was still a big problem. Patient B has osteoarthritis in their knee.  

What are the symptoms? 

Osteoarthritis (OA) will be different for everyone. I’ve shared two stories of the same joint to show how two cases of knee osteoarthritis will affect people differently. However, there are similar features, and if you think you might have OA, you can look out for these. OA will often cause swelling and stiffness of your joint, the muscles around the joint will become tense, and movement will become more difficult. Pain can begin after the swelling and stiffness, but it might be the thing that makes you really take notice.  

What is Osteoarthritis? 

OA is a joint disease that causes swelling, cartilage break down, and bone spurs. It typically affects people over 40, and is most often found in knees, hips, the spine, and fingers or toes. 

With OA, people often talk about “wear and tear”. This is actually a bad description of the cause and process of OA. The “wear and tear” idea is an old one, from when our understanding of the disease wasn’t what it is now. The main things that cause OA are genetics, previous injury to the joint, and being overweight. The process of OA is actually similar to the joint trying to repair itself, a completely normal process involving inflammation and regeneration of bone and cartilage. But, when inflammation and these repair processes persist, the disease can begin.  

What can I do? 

See a physio or doctor to confirm whether you have OA, which should include a discussion, a physical assessment, and an X-ray. A good treatment plan for OA involves a plan for exercise, nutrition, and possibly medication. Thankfully, most people will do really well without injections and surgery.  

Check out our web page about osteoarthritis.

If you think you have OA, or need help managing it, give us a call, we’d love to help 😊