Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis in Knees

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Knee pain can affect individuals of all ages, and there are many causes and factors that can lead to this problem. Some of these causes are arthritis, mechanical problems, injuries, etc. Overall, if you experience pain in your knee, it may be a warning sign that there is something wrong in the joint of the knee. Let’s focus to arthritis in knees, especially for the common signs and symptoms! You may also like to read home remedies for arthritis!

For the arthritis itself, there are also some types of arthritis that can affect the knees. These types include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, pseudogout, and gout!

Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis in knees

Many studies found that osteoarthritis (or familiar called as ‘OA’) is the most common type of arthritis. It is also often called as ‘wear and tear arthritis’. 

In a joint with OA, the natural cushioning ‘cartilage’ wears away. If this condition occurs, there is almost no shock-absorber to reduce the friction between the bones of the joint which then cause pain.

Who are at risk?

Did you know that there are about 27 million individuals in the U.S who have OA, and most of them experience osteoarthritis of the knee? -- According to the Arthritis Foundation. 

OA of the knee can occur in almost all age groups (including in young people), but however it is more common in people who are over the age of 45s. Furthermore, gender also contributes to the risk because in fact this degenerative condition is relatively more common in women than in men.

In general, once again age is usually the most common cause of OA in knee. In other words, almost every people (as they get older) will eventually experience some degree of OA. Other causes or factors that increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis may include:

1. Overweight! Having excessively weight can put more pressure on all the joints of your body, particularly for your knees. Therefore, it’s reasonable why overweight is linked to higher risk of having osteoarthritis, especially in the joints on the knees.
2. Having a job or activities that can cause repetitive stress injuries. For instance, people who have certain activities that require squatting, kneeling, lifting weight (heavy weight of 55 lb or more), or other activities that cause constant pressure on the joint are at higher likelihood of developing OA. Furthermore, athletes (especially for those who are involved in long-distance running, tennis, and football game) are also more likely to develop OA of the knee.
3. Having inherited abnormalities in the bones or joints of knee! 
4. Having other health problems, particularly such as overload growth hormone, metabolic disorders, and rheumatoid arthritis (people who have rheumatoid arthritis are also more likely to experience osteoarthritis)!

What are common signs that may occur?

The osteoarthritis symptoms in the knee may include:

1. When you moving the affected knee, you may hear a crackly sound!
2. Pain in the joint of the knee. It may get a little better when you take a rest, but the intensity of this pain typically increases or get worse when you are active!
3. Morning stiffness (typically occurs in the morning) on the knee. You may also feel this stiffness after sitting for a certain period of time!
4. Feeling of warmth or/and swelling in the joint.
5. Poor ability to use the affected knee, which then causes poor mobility with your knee.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in knees

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most debilitating type of arthritis. After osteoarthritis, RA is the second common type of arthritis! 

As mentioned before, once you have RA, there is a chance for you to also experience osteoarthritis. RA is chronic disease. And it is also familiar known as autoimmune disease that can affect all joints of the body, including for the knees. Autoimmune disease means that without unclearly reason the body’s immune system attack the joints. 

Though RA is a chronic disease, but it typically varies in severity and the symptoms may ‘come & go’! Furthermore, the pain or symptoms of RA typically affect symmetrically /occur in both sides of the affected joint (for instances both knees, both hands, both hips, both elbows, and both sides of neck).

Symptoms of RA in the knees may include:

1. Pain in both of the knees, particularly when you move them.
2. Inflammation, swelling, and stiffness in the affected joints.
3. Feeling of warmth, especially around the joints of the knees.
4. You may also experience fatigue (it is usually difficult to be resolved), flu-like symptoms, and fever.

Signs of septic arthritis in knees

There is a chance of less commonly fungi or bacteria to spread from other infected areas of the body to the joints, which then can result a problem what we call as septic arthritis. Even in several cases, these bacteria may only infect the joint of the body -- leaving other the body’s areas unharmed!

There are a number of bacteria that can lead to septic arthritis, but staph (Staphylococcus Aureus) is the most common cause! Staph is a kind of bacteria that usually can be found in the nose and on the skin!

In many cases, these bacteria are more likely to spread and target the joint of the knee - damage it - which then can cause pain, swelling, and warmth! But there is also a chance for these bacteria to affect other joints of the body (such as shoulder, hip (joint of hip is the common affected area in children), elbow, wrist, and ankle).

According to a published article on MayoClinic -- septic arthritis is more common in older adults and young children! But it can be completely recovered if properly treated within 7 days after the signs first appear!

In general, septic arthritis usually cause extreme difficulty and discomfort when using the affected joint. Lack of appetite, irritability, tachycardia (rapid /increased heartbeat), and malaise are some common symptoms of septic arthritis in children.

In adults (particularly in older adults) the common signs that occur may include; 

1. Pain (severe pain) from the affected joint of the knee (particularly when you move your knee).
2. Warmth and swelling on the area of the affected joint.
3. And you may also experience fever!

Diagnosis and tests

Each type of arthritis in knees usually requires different approaches of treatment to relieve the signs and symptoms. Therefore, it’s important to get to know the clearly answer and diagnosis of your problem.

The common procedures and tests that are used to make a diagnosis may include:

1. Learning the symptoms that occur.
2. Analyzing the medical history of patient.
3. X-rays test and/or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)!

In septic arthritis, blood test and joint fluid analysis are usually also needed to find the exactly type of bacteria that causes the infection!

***Don’t take a conclusion on your own about any symptom that you experience, see a doctor promptly to find & get a clearly diagnosis and appropriately treatment!

Read also other related articles about treatment for arthritis in dog and best mattress for back pain!

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Reference: MayoClinic and WebMD