Arthritis can affect just about any part of the body, including the knees. When we see patients with knee arthritis, they tend to experience a lot of pain behind the knee cap, which can make even walking uncomfortable to do. If you think that you or one of your loved ones has this type of arthritis, then it’s helpful to know the basics. Let’s take a closer look at what some of the basics are.
Who Is At Risk of Getting It?
Similar to other types of arthritis, there are several potential risks of patellofemoral arthritis including:
- Females: Statistics show that women are more commonly affected than men
- Obesity- Excessive weight can lead to joint degeneration which can cause kneecap arthritis
- Health problems: Patients with gout, dysplasia, rheumatoid arthritis, and Paget’s disease are more likely to get
- Repetitive movements: Repetitive movements like standing for sustained amounts of time can lead to osteoarthritis in the knee
- Age: Most patients who are diagnosed, are over the age of 40
- Injury: If you have or have had a knee injury, the trauma can lead to arthritis in the knees.
What Are the Symptoms?
Patients with this type of arthritis usually experience knee swelling, pain, irritation, and they hear a crackling sound in their knee joints when they walk.
How Is It Diagnosed?
When patients come in with a variety of symptoms that are indicative of arthritis, we like to run a number of tests. Tests include a comprehensive physical examination, a look at your medical history, MRI’s or CT scans, blood work, and even a lab evaluation.
What Are the Treatments?
Depending on the severity of your arthritis, treatments include:
- Cortisone Injections
- Swimming and walking to strengthen the muscles around the knee
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
- Weight loss and management
Surgery
If you or your loved one have any of the symptoms listed in this article, schedule an appointment with us and call  910.295.0224.
