Osteoarthritis of the knee

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

pain
stiffness
a grating or grinding sensation (crepitus) when you move the joint
soft or hard swellings

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What causes osteoarthritis?

Almost anyone can get osteoarthritis but you’re at a greater risk if:

you’re in your late 40s or older
you’re overweight
you're a woman
your parents had it
you’ve had a previous joint injury
your joints have been damaged by another disease (e.g. gout or rheumatoid arthritis)

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What treatments are there for osteoarthritis?

Your treatment will vary depending on how severe your pain is. You may find that a combination of over-the-counter painkillers and self-help methods are all you need, but if your pain is severe your doctor may suggest the following treatment:

capsaicin cream
stronger painkillers (e.g. tramadol) for more intense pain
steroid injections into the painful joint
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
surgery, including joint replacement

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Self-help and daily living

Try the following tips to help ease your symptoms:

use over-the-counter painkillers (e.g. paracetamol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are available as tablets or creams and gels that you rub into the affected area
lose weight if you’re overweight
exercise regularly (both muscle-strengthening exercise and general aerobic exercise)
use heat/ice packs
try complementary therapies
use gadgets and home adaptations
learn pain management and relaxation techniques

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What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

What causes osteoarthritis?

What treatments are there for osteoarthritis?

Self-help and daily living

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Tomosynthesis may be better at diagnosing knee osteoarthritis than x-rays

Osteoarthritis of the knee

Condition

Drug

Self help and daily living

Surgery

Therapy

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