Arthritis Joint and Knee Pain
Joint and knee pain is a common symptom of arthritis. It can also be a major contributor to other symptoms, such as stiffness and limited mobility. Over time, joint and knee pain can seriously impact your quality of life. Some treatments for arthritis may also reduce the pain, but don't provide any long-term relief.
Arthritis is a general term for a group of diseases that affect the joints. Joints connect your bones to each other and allow you to move. Arthritis is caused when the joints are damaged by arthritis or another condition, such as an infection or injury. The damage causes pain, swelling, and restriction in movement.
Osteoarthritis is one of the more common forms of arthritis, and occurs when the cartilage becomes damaged and worn away, which leads to a loss of joint space. Osteoarthritis can occur in any of the joints in the body, but is most common in the hips and the knee. It is the most common form of arthritis in people over the age of 65, and those who have it are often older women.
In some forms of arthritis, the pain occurs in more than one joint. In other forms, the pain is in one specific joint.
People who have arthritis may have symptoms in many parts of the body. The pain and stiffness may be in one particular joint but also in other joints at the same time.
Osteoarthritis is most common in three areas of the body: the hands and the knees, but it can happen anywhere in the body. It occurs when the cartilage that works to cushion the bones wears down, causing damage to the joints. It is most common in older adults, especially women, who are more likely to have osteoarthritis in the hips, knees, and spine.
In the early 1980s, arthritis was the leading cause of disability among adults between the ages of 45 and 64 (Degreef, 1982). Data from the 1990 census suggest that the prevalence of adult arthritis has not changed significantly in the past 20 years and continues to be the major cause of disability among older Americans.
With osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes damaged, which causes pain. The cartilage is the smooth, thin tissue that covers the ends of bones and helps them move correctly. When the cartilage wears thin from years of use, osteoarthritis can occur. Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are treatments that can help reduce your joint pain.
Osteoarthritis is often caused when cartilage wears down as we age. It can begin as a type of roughened cartilage, but as it gets worse, it can become hard and thick. It may progress slowly or quickly, depending on the joint involved and how early it begins.
One of the primary risk factors for osteoarthritis is age. Unfortunately, by the time you are diagnosed with arthritis, it may have already progressed to a point where joint pain is disabling. Loss of joint function and physical disability can be devastating, and can lead to restrictions in daily functioning and social activities.
In most cases, osteoarthritis occurs in one of the weight bearing joints, such as in the hips, which are typically the first joints to become painful. These joints are commonly the knees, but they can also be the hips, the ankles, or the feet. Osteoarthritis can also develop in other joints, including the hands and wrists, but most often in the knees, hips, and feet.
Arthritis usually affects multiple joints, but it can begin in one joint, such as the knee, and spread to other joints. This is called polyarthritis. The other type of arthritis is called oligoarthritis, which usually affects just a few joints at a time. Both types of arthritis cause pain, stiff joints, swelling, and loss of movement.
Osteoarthritis is a common and sometimes disabling joint condition that affects the cartilage, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. The disease usually causes pain in just one or two joints, such as the knees, but it can affect many joints, such as hips, knees, and ankles. It is most common in people over 50, but children and teenagers can also have the disease.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions your joints wears down over time. It most often affects the joints of the hands, feet, and knees, but it can also affect other joints, such as the hips. It is most common in older adults, but it can happen at any age. In the United States, nearly 50 million Americans are living with osteoarthritis, or have symptoms of the condition.
