© 2019 OA Knee Pain. All Rights Reserved.
About Us
Our focus is knee osteoarthritis
Due to an increasing number of people suffering with knee pain and being diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a network of expert organisations has teamed up to establish OA Knee Pain. Our aim is to provide help and guidance along with all the information you may need about the condition to help you understand diagnosis, treatment options and management.
Associations include:
- Arthritis Solutions
- Osteotomy Expert Group
- Welsh Bone (Orthopaedic Surgeons in Wales)
- KNEEguru
- TALKhealth
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease causing joints to wear down
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease also commonly referred to as arthrosis, osteoarthrosis or OA. The condition is caused by the protective fluid in the joint losing its shock absorbing abilities resulting in the bones rubbing against each other and the cartilage that protects the ends of the bones wearing down. Sufferers often experience pain, swelling and problems with mobility.
- Stage 1: (Doubtful) Minimum disruption but sufferers experience a 10% loss of cartilage.
- Stage 2 (Mild): Narrowing of the joint space with the cartilage beginning to breakdown and the occurrence of osteophytes (a bony projection associated with the degeneration of cartilage at joints).
- Stage 3 (Moderate): Moderate joint-space reduction where the gaps in the cartilage can expand until they reach the bone.
- Stage 4 (Severe): The joint-space is greatly reduced with around 60% loss of cartilage and large osteophytes.
Any joint in the body can be affected by OA but the most common damage is found in the knees, hips, lower back, neck, fingers and toes.
What can be done?
Treatment will be determined by the joint affected and its severity
Supporting Charities
There are a range of organisations offering easy access to information about your condition
Arthritis Care is a UK registered charity that offers a range of support and services to help
people manage arthritis and connect with other people who share a similar
experience. The charity can offer support in person, online or on the phone and can put those living with arthritis in contact with other sufferers.
Arthritis Research UK invests in breakthrough treatments, provides information and vital support for everyone affected by arthritis. Its work has already uncovered breakthrough treatments, and it is dedicated to uncovering new ideas to help people push back the ways arthritis limits their lives.
OA Knee Pain Social Board
Bringing you the latest news, research and treatment breakthroughs from the world of osteoarthritis
Visit our blog
How Does Age Affect People's Experiences Of OA?
When we think about arthritis, there is a tendency to categorise it as an old person’s disease. We envision the little old lady struggling to make it across the road or the old man with a walking stick. But the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. There are thought to be around 10 million people living in the UK with the disease and these cover a range of ages from children right up to those over the age of 65.
How Does The Body Clock Affect The Development Of OA
Various factors can affect our body clocks but this is usually a temporary situation. A series of late nights, shift patterns that change and long flights can produce temporary effects such as mood changes and sleep disruption. We commonly refer to this as jet lag and do not view it as a serious problem but it is now widely recognised that our biological clocks are also important to our general well-being and health.
How Does Obesity Affect Your Risk Of OA Knee Pain
Obesity has been known to be a serious health problem for many years, but the impact that being overweight can have on your knees is not always recognised. Seriously obese people are fourteen times more likely to develop osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee than people whose weight is within healthy parameters, so it follows that maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of knee pain due to this disease.
What Are The Differences Between OA And Other Types Of Arthritis?
There are over 100 different types of arthritis. The most common include osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), fibromyalgia and gout. Although there are many similarities between the different types of arthritis and the pain they cause, knowing which type you have can make the difference between successful treatment or further debilitation.
Where Can I Turn to For Support For OA Knee Pain
Osteoarthritis causes increasing joint pain and stiffness in the knee. Tenderness and swelling are also likely to be present. This may be particularly the case immediately after you wake up, after overusing your knee, or when resting.
How Can Tai Chi Help People With OA Knee Pain
There is proof that the martial art tai chi can help with the symptoms and pain of knee osteoarthritis (OA). We look at the evidence below and explain how tai chi can improve the condition.
The Effect Of Weather On OA Knee Pain
Many of us are familiar with stories of people with injuries or joint conditions claiming to be able to predict the weather based upon their pain and stiffness. Whilst they are often met with polite nodding or even ridicule, there is evidence that there may be a genuine link between weather conditions and levels of pain. There is a growing body of research looking at the effect of weather on OA knee pain, but the results are far from conclusive.
The Mental Health Impact Of OA Knee Pain
Any injury to the knee can be particularly painful. This includes the mobility issues that often arise from osteoarthritis. As the knee is so important when standing or walking, damage to the joint can have a negative impact on your ability to accomplish day-to-day tasks. It is not, however, just the physical discomfort that can make life more difficult. As with any long-term injury, chronic pain in the knee can have a negative effect on mental health. For example, it can increase the likelihood of experiencing depression or anxiety.
OA Knee Pain Treatments Of The Near Future
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the UK, occurring when the cartilage cushioning the joints wears down. Most commonly found in people over 50 years old or following an injury or other stress on the joints, OA is most often seen in the knees and can cause serious pain and debilitation to those who develop it.
Could OA Be Recategorised As More Than One Disease?
Traditionally, osteoarthritis has been considered to be a single disease with the same cause and course of treatment. However, recent evidence has emerged which suggests that it is not a single disease and this may have implications when it comes to treatment options.