Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one types of arthritis commonly heard amongst aged population, especially female over age of 55 years old. Osteoarthritis is abbreviated as OA or referred to as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD). Among the over 100 different types of arthritis conditions, osteoarthritis is the most common happen condition.

Cartilage is a connector between the bones and the joints that serves as a "cushion". Arthritis always caused by tear down and eventual loss of the cartilage of joints. Osteoarthritis commonly affects the hands, feet, spine, and large weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees.

Primary osteoarthritis is mostly a result of natural aging of the joint. When we are getting older, the fluid compound of the cartilage will increases, and the protein substance makeup of cartilage will degenerates. Gradually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking. In advanced osteoarthritis, cartilage cushion between the bones and the joints will totally loss. Joint pain will gradually appear and become obvious over repetitive use of the worn joints for our daily activities.



Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis vary from patient to patient. Osteoarthritis of the knees always linked to obesity or excess upper body weight, or has history of injury or joint surgery. Bowlegged is a osteoarthritis condition cause by progressive cartilage degeneration of the knee joints that lead to deformity and outward curvature of the knees.

People with osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints such as the knees can develop a limp. The limping condition can go worsen over the time as more cartilage degenerates. Medicine and some common treatments may not curable for some patients regarding to the joint pain and limping. Severe osteoarthritis of the knees is one of the most common reasons for knee replacement surgical.

There is no way to use blood test for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis. However blood test can be performed to exclude diseases that can cause secondary osteoarthritis, as well as to exclude other arthritis conditions that look similar to osteoarthritis.

X-rays of the affected joints can be used to diagnose osteoarthritis. The common X-ray findings of osteoarthritis include loss of joint cartilage, narrowing of the joint space between adjacent bones, and bone spur formation.

Weight reduction cause by obesity that put on excessive weight on joint is important for the treatment. Intense activities that put excessive stress on the joint cartilage should avoid. There are no specific treatments to halt cartilage degeneration or to repair damaged cartilage in osteoarthritis. The goal of treatment in osteoarthritis is to reduce joint pain and inflammation while improving and maintaining joint function. Physical therapy and mechanical support devices such as knee braces can relief the condition.

Pain Inside Knee Joint PCL Injury

Pain inside knee joint, a posterior cruciate ligament injury is causing by tearing or stretching of the posterior cruciate ligament PCL.

Physical examination by doctor needed when there are signs of PCL injury. Doctor will ask you to move your knee joint in different ways. Fluid in the knee joint may also check to see if there is bleeding inside knee joint. For more serious case, knee joint MRI and knee joint x-ray may be required.

The posterior cruciate ligament PCL is the strongest ligament in the knee. It extends from the top-rear surface of the tibia to the bottom-front surface of the femur. The ligament controls the stability of posterior knee joint, avoiding tibia from moving over behind the femur.

Posterior cruciate ligament injury usually happen by over stretching the knee joint (hyperextension). This can easily happen if you land improperly or too hard from jumping. The PCL injury can also caused from a direct blow to the flexed knee, such as smashing your knee in a car accident (called "dashboard injury") or falling hard on a bent knee.

Posterior cruciate ligament injury symptoms are obvious to be seen. When you have below symptoms, you have chances of PCL injury.

• Knee joint pain 

• Knee joint instability 

• Back knee swelling 

In common practice, first aid treatments for PCL injury are

• Applying ice to the area 

• Elevating the knee joint above the level of the heart 

• Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief 

You should not have any intense physical activity until the knee swelling is shrinking down until disappear and the pain inside knee joint is gone. Proper physical therapy can help you to regain knee joint and leg muscle strength. If the PCL injury are more serious and cannot recover from above therapy, you may need surgery. This may be either knee arthroscopy or open surgical reconstruction.

For ages population, pain inside knee joint are more commonly happen. There are weak to their bone, ligaments and knee joint. Daily physical activities are advised not to be intense and be careful.