What is Osteoarthritis of the knee?

• Osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the most common manifestations of OA.
  • Approximately 27 million people in the U.S. have OA
    • Every year, Americans spend ~$7.9 billion dollars on knee / hip replacements

Symptoms

• Especially in the knee, OA can cause:
  • Stiffness
  • Pain
  • "Locking up" of the knee
  • Grating / Catching of the joint during movement

Risk Factors

Age	Gender
Bone deformities	Joint injuries
Obesity	Repetitive-stress jobs
Diabetes	Underactive thyroid
Gout	Paget's disease

Causes

• The specific causes for OA are unknown
  • It's thought that OA is caused by both mechanical and molecular events in each joint that's affected

Treatment

• Joint replacement surgery
• Cartilage
  • Grafting Surgery
• Exercise
• Weight loss
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Glucosamine & Chondroitin
• Corticosteroid injections

Resources

- While there are no support groups in the Kenosha or Gurnee areas, the Center for Disease Control has some really in-depth support material. In addition, the Arthritis Foundation has several online support groups as well as information regarding coping with arthritis

* CIS does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The content is for informational purposes only. 

Source: Center for Disease Control