Signs: How to Know if You Have Arthritis in the Knee

There are many types of arthritis, but most will start with similar symptoms. Keep an eye out for the early signs of arthritis, and let your doctor know if you think you may be developing symptoms of arthritis.

1. Joint Pain
The most common symptom of arthritis is joint pain, and this is the reason most people seek medical care for their arthritis. The type of pain can vary depending on the type of the arthritis and the severity of the condition. Most people who have arthritis describe an aching pain in the joint that is worsened by activity and relieved by rest. The amount of joint pain usually corresponds to the amount of activity.

2. Joint Swelling
Swelling of a joint can occur with many conditions, but the most common cause of joint swelling is arthritis. The second most common cause of swelling is an injury to the joint. So if no injury has occurred, it is possible that the swelling is due to arthritis. Sometimes laboratory analysis of the fluid itself can help determine if there is arthritis or another cause of joint swelling.

3. Stiffness of Joints
People who have arthritis almost always feel stiffness in their joints. You can check your joint motion by comparing it to the joint on the opposite side. Stiffness is usually worse in the morning or after long periods of sitting in one position. As the joint moves with activity, it usually loosens a bit. Other ways to loosen a stiff joint are with heat application and anti-inflammatory medications.



4. Deformity of Joints
As joint cartilage is worn away by arthritis, the extremity may take on a deformed appearance. Just as if the tread is worn off your car tires, if enough joint cartilage is worn away, the joint may take on an angled appearance. This is often seen in the hands as crooked fingers. In the knee joint, people with arthritis may develop a knock-kneed or bow-legged appearance.

5. Grinding Sensations
As joint cartilage is worn away, the smooth lining covering the rough bone is lost. When the bone is exposed, the joint may not move smoothly. You may feel or even hear a grinding sensation. Place your hand on the joint as you bend back and forth and feel for a grinding sensation of the joint.

6. Lumps and Bumps Around Joints
Arthritis can cause the formation of pockets of fluid (mucous cysts) or bone spurs. These are felt as knobby protuberances around the joint. They may or may not be sensitive to the touch, but they do give a lumpy appearance to the joint. Most people notice these on the small joints of the fingers, although they can occur throughout the body.

7. Joint Tenderness
Joints that are arthritic are tender to the touch. If one side of the joint is more involved with arthritis than the other, the worse side is usually more tender. Pressing around the joint and having an elicit pain is a reasonable indication that the joint is inflamed, and that it may have underlying arthritis.

8. Warm/Red Joints
Joint inflammation can lead to symptoms of joint redness and warmth. These symptoms should be evaluated by your doctor because they can also be suggestive of a joint infection. However, it is not uncommon for the inflammation associated with arthritis to lead to redness and warmth of the joint.

 

Although you can’t always prevent arthritis. Some causes—such as increasing age, family history, and gender (arthritis is more common in women) are out of your control. Yet there are a few health habits you can change to reduce your risk of developing painful joints as you get older. Many of these steps—like exercising and eating a healthy diet— prevent other diseases too.

Eat Fish
Certain fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy polyunsaturated fat. Omega-3s have a number of health benefits—and may reduce inflammation in the body.

A study in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found that women who eat fish regularly may be at lower risk for rheumatoid arthritis. The USDArecommends eating fish high in omega-3s—like salmon, trout, mackerel, and sardines—twice a week.

Control Your Weight
Your knees have to support your body weight. Being overweight or obese can take a real toll on them. If you’re just 10 pounds overweight, the force on your knee as you take each step increases by 30 to 60 pounds, according to Johns Hopkins.

Overweight women are almost four times as likely to get knee osteoarthritis as women of a healthy weight are. Diet and exercise can bring your weight into a healthier range.

Exercise
Exercise not only takes the stress of excess weight off your joints. It also strengthens the muscles around the joints, which protects them from wear and tear.

To maximize the benefits of your exercise program, alternate aerobic activities such as walking or swimming with strengthening exercises. Also add in some stretching to maintain your flexibility and range of motion.

Avoid Injury
Over time, the joints can start to wear out. But when you injure your joint—for example, while playing sports or due to an accident—you can damage the cartilage in the knee and cause it to wear out more quickly.

To avoid injury, always use the proper safety equipment while playing sports, and learn the correct exercise techniques.

Protect Your Joints
Using the right techniques when sitting, working, and lifting can help protect joints from everyday strains. For example, lift with your knees and hips—not your back—when picking up objects.

Carry items close to your body, so you don’t put too much strain on your wrists. If you have to sit for long periods of time at work, make sure that your back, legs, and arms are well supported.

Have a Drink
A study in BMJ suggested that women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol have a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis. This one study can’t prove that alcohol prevents arthritis. However, drinking moderate amounts each week (one glass a day for women and two glasses for men) has also been linked to other health benefits, such as a lower risk for heart disease.

Before drinking alcohol, ask your doctor if it’s safe for you.

See Your Doctor
If you do start to develop arthritis, see your doctor or a rheumatologist. The damage from arthritis is progressive, meaning that the longer you wait to seek treatment, the more destruction will occur to the joint.

Your doctor may be able to suggest treatments or lifestyle interventions that can slow the progress of your arthritis and preserve your mobility.

Healthline

 

I always feel joint pains but the last time i check with my doctor says I dont have arthritis so that's why I try to manage to control my weight now maybe it's the one causing my joint problems especially that I can only find time to exercise very seldom in a month.

 

You just did the right thing. Not because you feel joint pains it means you are having arthritis, it could be something else.

 

You may also want to keep a diary of how you feel each day, rating your pain at different times and after different activities. Record what makes your pain feel better, and what makes it worse. Also share with your doctor what you can and cannot do because of your pain. Your doctor will also want to know about any other symptoms you are experiencing (such as fever or a skin rash), which could point to another kind of arthritis.
Taking the time to focus on your pain and other symptoms will help your doctor formulate a clear diagnosis, and find the best course of treatment to help ease your pain.

 

Natural Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis in Arthritis

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Arthritis refers to severe joint pain
It's an auto-immune disease
The pain in the joints can make a person immobile
CAUSES

Body's tissues are attacked by their own immune system
Common in people over 40 years of age

SYMPTOMS

Pain and swelling in joints like:
Fingers
Legs
Arms
Wrists
This pain is most severe in the morning

SIMPLE TECHNIQUES

Natural home remedy using mustard oil and camphor

Take 1 cup mustard oil
Add 10 g camphor
Heat the oil till the camphor dissolves completely
Massage lukewarm oil on the affected areaThis will help improve the blood circulation in the area and will reduce the inflammation and stiffness.
Natural home remedy using potato

Take a few unpeeled potato slices
Soak in 1 glass cold water overnight
Drink this water on an empty stomach, every morning
Natural home remedy using green gram and garlic cloves

Take 3 tbsp green gram
Soak in 250 ml water overnight to get sprouted gram
Add 2 crushed garlic cloves to the sprouted gram
Mix well
Consume 2 times a dayYou may add salt and pepper for taste.
These remedies are based on the principles of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of healing, and are completely natural, non-invasive, and can be prepared at home. Consult your doctor if the symptoms persist. Refer to the terms of use.

Dr. B.N. Sinha
Ayurveda Expert