Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment in Orange County

Specialized Knee Surgeons in Orange County

A study from The Arthritis Foundation found that more than 27 million Americans live with osteoarthritis, a condition that can affect the knee, hip, or spine. However, the knees are the most commonly affected joints. It occurs when the cartilage in the knee disintegrates over time, and this crucial connective tissue provides the support and lubrication for your knee joint to move freely. Once this cartilage has worn down, it can become painful to flex or move the knee whatsoever, and that’s because the bones are rubbing against each other with no cartilage cushion in-between.

Do I Have Knee Osteoarthritis?

The majority of those who suffer knee osteoarthritis are those who are older women, particularly those who are obese. The reason the significantly overweight population is at higher risk is that the knees are weight-bearing joints and carry a great deal of our weight as we stand, move, or even turn over in bed as we sleep.

Others at risk for knee osteoarthritis include athletes who have sustained frequent injuries, even those that seemingly healed years ago. Others affected may have repetitive joint stress, bone deformities, genetics, or certain metabolic diseases. One common side effect of this degenerative joint disease is chronic knee pain, which can cause clinical depression and sleep disturbances from pain and disability.

Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Knee Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen with time.

Signs and symptoms include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Tenderness
• Discomfort going up or down stairs
• Waking up with a swollen knee
• Random knee-buckling
• Loss of range of motion
• Popping or cracking of the knees
• Bone spurs around the affected knee joint
• Swelling

Diagnosing Knee Osteoarthritis

Your knee surgeon will perform a physical exam where he will check the affected knee joint for tenderness, swelling, redness and a lack of flexibility. Your knee doctor will then order X-rays of the knee joint. MRI scans are typically only ordered for more complex cases requiring a more detailed view of the bone, soft tissue and cartilage. Blood tests and a joint fluid analysis may also be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis

Unfortunately, osteoarthritis cannot be reversed, but treatments can reduce pain and help you obtain a better range of motion of the knee joints. Medications, cortisone injections, physical/occupational therapy, and surgery are all potential treatments for knee osteoarthritis. Conservative, nonsurgical approaches are generally attempted first, unless the patient’s case is very severe.

Surgical Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis

The main surgical procedure to repair knee osteoarthritisis a total knee joint replacement. In this surgery, also called total knee arthroplasty (TKA), your orthopedic surgeon will carefully remove the damaged knee joint and replace it with body-safe plastic and metal parts to restore the integrity of the joint. It will take time to get used to your new knee replacement prosthetics, which is why you should continue physical therapy once you heal substantially after your operation.

Hoag Orthopedic Institute has been ranked as “High Performing” by U.S. News & World Report for Knee Replacements in 2023-2024. And, HOI has performed the highest number of joint replacement procedures in the state of California for eight consecutive years.¹ You will be in expert hands if you choose to have your knee replacement surgery at HOI.

Apart from these treatments, your doctor may advise you to lose weight if you are carrying extra weight, which increases the pressure on weight-bearing joints, including the hips and knees. Even losing a small amount of weight can relieve tremendous pressure from these joints and alleviate pain.

Let the experts at Hoag Orthopedic Institute help manage your knee pain caused from knee osteoarthritis. Please call (949) 705-6493 to book your appointment.

Find a Knee Surgeon

Source:¹ Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD)