What are some general characteristics of knee arthritis? What are its usual manifestations?
There are over 100 types of arthritis, and all of them can affect the knee, and the knee is the most-commonly affected joint. Most patients who have arthritis are over age 50, but certain types and patterns of arthritis can affect younger patients. Arthritis of the knee causes pain, stiffness, and sometimes swelling. Patients with more advanced arthritis find that even simple daily activities like walking, arising from a chair, and performing self-care can be affected. Most patients with arthritis can achieve some measure of relief from activity modifications, pills, or joint injections; however, for some patients these remedies are insufficient to provide a satisfactory quality of life. These patients sometimes consider knee replacement surgery. More details about the common characteristics of knee arthritis follow below: Pain Pain is the most noticeable symptom of knee arthritis. In most patients, the pain gradually gets worse over time, but sometimes has more sudden “flares” where t
