Type of Arthritis that Affects Knee

Knee pain can affect all of us as we age. While some people take it for granted, some people opt for medical procedures to get rid of the pain. It is important to know the cause of your pain. More often than not, the condition is triggered by Arthritis. Knee arthritis treatment will be required if we want to get relief from the condition. A knee replacement could also bring relief in this condition.

As common people, we might be unaware of the fact that there are 6 types of Arthritis.

1. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is caused when there are cartilage degeneration and bony protrusions.  The common arthritic condition is usually seen in the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and patella (kneecap) region. It may or may not cause pain. The pain will be felt when the

• Loss of cartilage causes the rubbing of bones of the joint against one another.
• Cartilage loss affects the joint’s biomechanics.

During the early stages, pain may be experienced during only specific activities but as osteoarthritis progresses, pain may be experienced even during daily activities.

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is not caused by cartilage loss but due to a malfunctioning of the immune system. It is an autoimmune disease that affects the synovial membrane which surrounds many joints of the body. The commonly affected areas are the wrists, knees, and ankles. The symptoms of RA are a joint inflammation that can swell the knee, make it stiff, and painful.

3. Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is also an autoimmune disease that occurs with psoriasis. Psoriasis manifests as itchy red spots on the elbows, knees, or scalp. Psoriatic arthritis can affect the joints of the hips, knees, extremities, and spine. The symptoms of this disease are swelling, tenderness and stiffness in the knee. It could also cause pain in the fingers and toes. Fatigue and eye pain are also seen in many cases.

4. Gout

Gout is an inflammation of the knee joint due to the build-up of uric acid crystals. These crystals are very minute and have a needle-like shape. When they accumulate in the soft tissue of the knee joint, there is excruciating pain accompanied by swelling, redness, and warmth.

5. Pseudogout: Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (CPPD)

Pseudogout is also a type of inflammatory arthritis that is caused due to the build-up of calcium pyrophosphate crystals. The difference between gout and Pseudogout is that Pseudogout commonly affects the knee. It is known to trigger sudden and severe knee pain, along with swelling, redness, and warmth.

6. Reactive Arthritis

Reactive arthritis causes inflammation, joint pain, and usually affects the knee, fingers, and lower back. Some symptoms may show up in the urinary tract, eyes, and skin.

It develops due to an infection, or due to a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It may cause symptoms even after months of resolving the infection.