Could Your Knee Pain Be a Sign of Osteoarthritis?

Knee pain has plenty of possible explanations, from an old sports injury to a tendon problem to simple overuse. Osteoarthritis sits near the top of that list, especially past age 45. Recognizing those patterns early gives you more treatment options than waiting until the damage is advanced.

Board-certified pain management physician Mahesh Mohan, MD, evaluates and treats knee osteoarthritis at the Spine & Joint Doc locations in Frisco, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Arlington, Texas.

Cartilage loss inside your knee joint

Your knee relies on a layer of smooth cartilage that covers the ends of your bones and lets your joint glide without friction. Osteoarthritis wears that cartilage down over time, whether from years of use, a previous injury, extra body weight, or genetics.

As the cartilage thins, bone begins contacting bone. That contact triggers pain and inflammation, and your body may respond by forming bone spurs that further limit your joint's movement. By the time symptoms become noticeable, structural changes are already underway inside your joint.

Symptoms that point toward osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis has a recognizable symptom pattern. Look for:

• Discomfort that flares during activity and settles once you rest
• Morning stiffness that loosens up after roughly half an hour
• Stiffness after sitting for a long stretch
• Swelling around your joint
• Popping, creaking, or a rough catching feeling as your knee moves
• Reduced range of motion
• A feeling that your knee might buckle

Not everyone experiences all of these, and symptoms often come and go rather than progressing steadily. Flares can follow a long day on your feet or a change in weather.

Osteoarthritis vs. other knee injuries

Osteoarthritis pain builds gradually across months or years, which distinguishes it from the sudden pain of a meniscus tear or ligament injury. Those tend to arrive with a specific moment you can point to.

Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects joints symmetrically on both sides of your body, comes with morning stiffness lasting well beyond half an hour, and often includes fatigue and general illness. Osteoarthritis usually affects the joints you’ve used most.

Risk factors that raise your odds

Certain factors make knee osteoarthritis more likely to develop:

• Older age
• Prior knee injury
• Excess body weight
• Repetitive kneeling, squatting, or heavy lifting from work or sport
• Family history
• Muscle weakness around the joint

Several of these factors are modifiable. Weight management and building strength in the muscles supporting your knee both influence how quickly your condition progresses.

Getting an accurate knee osteoarthritis diagnosis

Diagnosis starts with a physical exam and a conversation about when your pain occurs, what aggravates it, and how it affects your daily activities. Dr. Mohan checks your range of motion, examines your joint for swelling and tenderness, and evaluates the way you walk.

X-rays reveal narrowing of the joint space, bone spurs, and other structural signs of cartilage loss. An MRI provides more detail on soft tissue when the picture isn't clear or when another injury may be involved.

Treatment options before joint replacement

An osteoarthritis diagnosis doesn't put you on a direct path to knee replacement. Several treatments can manage pain and preserve function:

• Physical therapy to strengthen supporting muscles and improve mobility
• Anti-inflammatory and pain-relief medications
• Corticosteroid injections to calm inflammation in your joint
• PRP therapy, which delivers a concentrated dose of your own platelets to your joint
• Stem cell therapy to support tissue repair
• Activity modification and weight management

Dr. Mohan combines these treatment options based on how far your osteoarthritis has progressed and how you respond. Starting treatment earlier generally produces better long-term results and can delay the need for more aggressive intervention.

Schedule a knee pain evaluation today

Knee pain that keeps returning deserves a proper diagnosis rather than another round of guessing. Call the Spine & Joint Doc office nearest you or book your appointment online today.