Knee Arthritis
Knee arthritis is a common condition. Although the average age of a patient undergoing knee replacement in this country is 69, the symptoms can affect patients who are much younger. This is particularly true if there has been a ligament injury to the knee or a fracture involving the knee, femur or tibia or if there is an inflammatory condition (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis).
Same Patient, X-Rays 10 Years Apart
The commonest symptoms are pain and stiffness. Pain is most commonly felt around the knee or down the shin. It may be easy to pinpoint an area, but it’s often more widespread around the joint. Other symptoms can be catching and giving way.
Not everyone with a diagnosis of knee arthritis needs an operation. Many people are able to manage the symptoms with activity moderation, diet and weight loss, walking aids, physiotherapy and analgesics. Some people may benefit from an injection of steroid into the joint. All of this is laid out in more detail in many websites. Two of them are https://www.versusarthritis.org/ and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/.