The most common cause of knee pain in old age is arthritis, which is a condition characterised by severe joint wear and tear (or degeneration). There are several types of arthritis. To learn more about it, continue to read this post below.
Knee Anatomy
The knee is the most crucial joint of the musculoskeletal system. It is a hinge joint. It can move only in two directions, namely, forwards and backwards like a hinge of the door. The knee might give a simplistic view outside though it is made of various parts internally.
These components are given below.
- Bone Ends (The Femur, The Tibia, & The Fibula)
- Knee Cap Bone (Patella)
- Articular Cartilage
- Meniscal Pads
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Bursae (Little Liquid-Filled Pouches)
- Joint Lining (Synovial Membrane)
- Nerves
- Blood Vessels
- Muscles
With these anatomical parts in mind, let’s proceed further and learn about various causes of knee pain in old age.
Causes of Knee Pain
There are two types of knee inflammation or pain: chronic and temporary.
Chronic knee pain occurs due to the following reasons.
Cartilage Damage: As mentioned above, major bone ends meet at the knee to form the functional structure of the joint. Over bone ends, a soft-tissue cover is found known as articular cartilage or simply cartilage. This is a lubricating and friction-removal factor in almost all joints, including the knee.
When bones in the joint lose cartilage, it causes friction and pain during motion like walking, climbing stairs and other such activities.
Cartilage damage happens due to overuse, an injury (post-traumatic osteoarthritis) or even internal conditions like deformities and autoimmune disorders.
Swollen Joint Lining: This lining or membrane secretes essential fluid that keeps the knee well lubricated. However, an autoimmune disorder like Rheumatoid Arthritis causes chronic inflammation to this lining.
Long-term inflammation causes the membrane to produce too much lubricant. The increased quantity leads to speedy wear and tear of the cartilage and the overall joint.
Bone Death: The condition is also known as avascular necrosis or osteonecrosis. The absence of blood flow to the bone results in the death of healthy cells. Typically, this problem affects the ball of the hip joint.
Infection: Also widely called septic arthritis, it is one of the major causes of chronic knee pain. Bone TB is a classic example of this type of arthritic inflammation.
Apart from that, an aging person can also experience temporary pain due to,
- Overusing their knee and muscles around
- A minor injury
- Viral fever like chikungunya
- Cold weather
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis etc,
To learn about the exact cause of knee pain, one must consult a knee specialist as soon as possible.
Symptoms
Knee pain is often accompanied by a variety of other physical discomfort. Symptoms vary from condition to condition. One might face all or any of the following experiences.
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Redness
- Restricted Mobility
- Full Physical Disability, e.g., in advanced stages of joint degeneration or damage
Diagnosis
Knee specialists evaluate knee problems, conditions and disorders with
- X-ray
- MRI
- CT Scan
An X-ray test is only ordered to image bone and joint conditions. However, these rays aren’t effective at producing pictures of soft tissues like cartilage, menisci, bursae, ligaments, tendons, etc.
For that matter, always an MRI test is put to use. The technology of magnetic resonance imaging is capable of generating quality images of the knee’s internal soft-tissue structures.
CT scans are only preferred when MRIs aren’t suitable for a person due to the presence of metal implants within the body.
Treatment
The way a medical professional treats knee pain varies from condition to condition.
Medicines: Painkillers are prescribed to relieve pain.
Injections: Injections of steroids are administered directly to the knee to provide instant relief from chronic and intense inflammation.
Physiotherapy: It aims to promote healing and strengthen the joint through a variety of specialised exercises, hand therapy (massages), and other techniques.
PRP: It is the most common form of biologics, a category of medicine that is made out of living tissues and cells. PRP or platelet-rich plasma therapy is given to the knee when the joint doesn’t seem to initiate healing itself.
Platelets are drawn out of the blood and then injected into the concerned spot.
Arthroscopy: It is the least invasive form of surgery. The procedure is performed with a few holes and pencil-thin instruments. Typically, an arthroscope is inserted into the knee for clear and definite visualisation. Afterwards, other tools might be used for treatment, keeping in mind the prevailing conditions.
Surgery: Some patients’ knee conditions are really bad. The situation cannot be restored with any other treatment option but a replacement intervention. In that case, a surgeon recommends knee replacement surgery to help the patient reclaim the previously active and pain-free life.
To learn about the cost of the treatment, visit the following link: total knee replacement surgery cost in India.
Knee Replacement Surgery
It is a successful and safe procedure.
The damaged parts are removed from the knee and then new surfaces are created with a durable and harmless implant. This procedure involves only removing those sections of the knee that have become useless and causing problems.
The main focus of this surgical treatment is to give new life to the damaged knee so it can function without pain.
Now, many cutting-edge technologies (Robotic Computers & Augmented Reality) have also made their way into the practice of joint replacement surgeries.
This surgery has various benefits such as
- Relief from chronic pain
- Improved knee joint function
- Better walking capacities
- Enhanced quality of life
Robotic knee replacement surgery is more personalised, advanced, and effective.
Conclusion
In short, the common cause of chronic knee pain in old age is arthritis. It is a condition where the knee cartilage is almost gone. Consequently, this makes mobility difficult. Although the condition might be irreversible, it is completely curable with joint replacement surgery.
The knee replacement is only advised when the joint is totally dysfunctional and therefore cannot be treated otherwise. If you find even walking a few steps difficult due to pain, perhaps your knees are worn out for the worse.
It is time you connect with a knee specialist and get to know about the internal conditions of your knees better.
