Understanding Knee Osteoarthritis
Pain is the most common
symptom experienced by
patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Knee
Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term condition where the cartilage that cushions your knee joint wears down over time. As this shock-absorbing cartilage erodes, the bones begin to rub against each other, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced movement. Over time, OA can worsen, causing increasing discomfort and disability.
Currently, no treatments can completely halt or reverse the progression of OA, and options mainly focus on relieving pain and managing symptoms. For the one-third of people over 65 worldwide living with OA, treatment options typically include:
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Exercise
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Weight loss
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Pain relief medications
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Viscosupplement (hyaluronic acid) injections
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Braces
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Physiotherapy
However, when these therapies no longer provide relief, joint replacement surgery with an artificial prosthesis often becomes the only option to reduce pain and improve quality of life.
Hear from an expert – Mr Chethan Jayadev
Understanding Synovitis (Synovial Pain)
Synovitis, or synovial pain, is a common symptom for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). It occurs when the synovial tissue inside the knee joint becomes inflamed, leading to increased pain and discomfort.
Why is Synovitis Important?
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Synovial pain is closely linked to the level of pain experienced by patients with knee OA.
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Research shows that synovitis not only contributes to knee pain but is also associated with faster cartilage loss in OA-affected joints.
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It can even trigger the beginning of cartilage breakdown in joints that did not previously show signs of osteoarthritis.
In short, synovitis plays a significant role in both the pain and progression of knee osteoarthritis. This is strong evidence that synovial pain is associated with further worsening of OA.
In the past, joint replacement surgery was the
only option for those with late-stage knee osteoarthritis.