Knee Doctor In Rockville MD

Types of Arthritis of the Knee

If you are experiencing pain and arthritis, you may want to call a knee doctor Rockville MD patients trust for a consultation. One of the professionals at Pain and Arthritis  Center may be able to help you, so set up an appointment today by calling 301-710-9777 now.

What is Arthritis?

Any knee doctor Rockville MD has to offer may tell you that arthritis is the inflammation of a joint that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling. Arthritis can affect one or more joints at a time and can be debilitating if left untreated.

Your knee doctor in Rockville MD may be able to go through your symptoms to determine if the problem you are experiencing is arthritis of the knee or not.

Types of Arthritis of the Knee

You may be surprised to learn that there are three types of arthritis that can affect the knee. A knee doctor Rockville MD residents rely on may be able to walk you through these types in more detail, but here’s a quick overview:

Osteoarthritis: Your Rockville knee doctor may tell you that this is the most common form of arthritis. It is considered a degenerative arthritis, meaning that it often happens in older individuals or individuals who have been hard on their knees through sports or rigorous trainings. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage wears away and causes the bone to rub and produce painful spurs. Unfortunately, it only gets worse over time if left untreated.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Any knee doctor Rockville MD residents trust has likely seen rheumatoid arthritis in many forms. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered chronic and attacks the joints throughout your body. It causes the synovial membrane of the knee to swell, which results in stiffness and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease because the immune system attacks its own tissues and softens the bone.

Posttraumatic Arthritis: Posttraumatic arthritis is just like it sounds, arthritis that occurs after an injury to the knee. Often, this is in the form of a broken bone that later leads to arthritis, but it can also be in the form of a meniscal tear or other injury that causes additional wear and tear on the knee that leads to arthritis.

Common Arthritis Symptoms

Your knee may often be inflamed and painful. You may experience a sudden onset or a gradual development of pain that worsens over time. Some other symptoms include stiffness and swelling, buckling of the knee, pain that’s worse with rainy weather, or a knee that buckles or locks in place.

Treatment of Arthritis

The treatment for arthritis in the knee varies based on the patient and the circumstances, but unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis. The good news is that in some cases, it can be treated with nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy, medications, and assistive devices.

In other cases, you may need one of the following surgical treatments: arthroscopy, cartilage grafting, synovectomy, osteotomy, or partial or total knee replacement.

If you’re experiencing pain and swelling of your knee, you may want to set up an appointment with a knee doctor Rockville MD patients count on by calling 301-710-9777 today.