At a public health awareness session, it was revealed that over 25% of adults have knee discomfort, which has increased in prevalence by nearly 65% over the previous 20 years and accounts for nearly 4 million primary care visits yearly.
“The knee joint is one of the largest in the body,” stated Dr. Ranjeet Kumar, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and expert in knee implants, in his speech. Chronic knee discomfort frequently starts with stair climbing or running. Sometimes symptoms don’t show up until after intense or protracted exercise.
He went on, “Some knee problems are characterized by discomfort that does not go away, even when sitting or at rest. As a result, the knee joint bears a heavy load and sustains injuries frequently. It experiences degenerative alterations throughout time. Knee pain therefore indicates a serious disease.
According to Dr. Kumar, knee pain brought on by extended sitting might be an indication of damage to the cartilage beneath the patella, or kneecap. The earlier this damage is identified, the more successfully it can be treated.
At the recent seminar hosted by Dr. Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre, DHA, Zamzama, Dr. Kumar stated that total knee replacement surgeries are becoming a necessary treatment for patients with severe knee problems. Following recovery from surgery, the patient can return to their regular activities.
The general belief is that knee replacement surgery is not advised for patients under the age of fifty, according to Dr. Ranjeet Kumar. However, the degree of discomfort and functional restrictions experienced by the patient inform the surgical suggestions. Research that has been published in medical journals, including The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, indicates that knee replacement surgery has a high success rate. Roughly 90–95% of patients report considerable improvement in function and pain alleviation following the procedure. No matter what causes persistent knee discomfort, putting off seeing a doctor is not worth it.
An autoimmune disease called rheumatoid arthritis thickens and inflames the tissue surrounding the joint. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are similar to those of other types of arthritis in the knee: stiffness, pain, swelling, and difficulty bending the knee fully. Chronic inflammation frequently results in damage and loss of cartilage. Giving a rheumatologist’s perspective on knee pain, renowned consultant rheumatologist and CMO of Engro Pakistan, Prof. Ahmad Iqbal Mirza, stated that rheumatoid arthritis affects around 1% of the world’s population and is two to three times more common in women.
Usually, as arthritis worsens, knee discomfort gets worse. Not everyone is a good candidate for surgery, but many people with severe arthritis pain decide to have it done to help heal the damaged joint and ease their symptoms. Medication and at-home methods like exercise and physiotherapy are some of the more traditional choices for treating arthritis-related knee discomfort.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that osteoarthritis affects over 595 million adults worldwide and is a major cause of knee pain and impairment.
Our knees are a marvel of engineering, as previously said by Dr Farhan Essa Abdullah, CEO of Dr. Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre. Over the course of a lifetime, especially an active one, they sustain a great deal of abuse; our knees bear the brunt of our weight when we stand and are further burdened when we run, jump, twist, ascend and descend stairs, kick a ball, or frolic around a tennis court or down a ski slope. It should come as no surprise that knees can sustain acute injuries as well as chronic issues like osteoarthritis over time. Exercise and weight loss are the best initial treatments for persistent knee pain, and most acute knee problems resolve on their own without special care. Giving advice on how to avoid persistent knee discomfort, he stressed that losing weight should be the mainstay of treatment since gaining more weight puts more strain on joints, making discomfort worse and affecting movement. He mentioned that arthritis is greatly influenced by exercise. People typically give up walking when they have knee discomfort, but they never give up walking when they have arthritis.
He recommended avoiding ground level activities like sitting cross-legged, kneeling, and climbing stairs once you get knee arthritis.
“Avoiding prolonged periods of sitting is the most crucial thing to do. If it is unavoidable, find suitable seating. The chair’s height is crucial; that is, there shouldn’t be a greater angle than 90 degrees between your leg and thigh. Strive to stand up frequently, stretch your legs, and set aside time to develop your leg muscles and knee joints.