Knee arthritis management
MedStar Health knee specialists offer sophisticated conservative and surgical options to treat patients with knee arthritis. We treat each patient using a combination of advanced pain management techniques, physical therapy, and surgical options. No matter how simple or complex your knee condition, our experienced orthopedic knee surgeons at MedStar Health will offer you a successful and durable solution.
What is knee osteoarthritis?
Knee arthritis refers to the inflammation of the cartilage that cushions your joint where the thigh bone meets the leg bone. This inflammation can cause pain, swelling, and knee damage. Because we spend so much time on our feet, our knee joints are especially vulnerable to arthritis. There are three common types of knee arthritis:
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Osteoarthritis of the knee: This is the most common type. It refers to arthritis that is the result of your body’s natural aging process, which can wear away the cartilage. Over time, this can cause inflammation and chronic pain.
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Post-traumatic arthritis of the knee: This is a specific form of osteoarthritis, which develops after you have had one or more knee injuries such as fractures and ACL injuries.
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Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee: This is a less common type. This type occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the knee joint, wearing away the cartilage lining. Generally, rheumatoid arthritis affects both sides of the body, causing pain in both knees.
Osteoarthritis
In people with osteoarthritis, there is a chronic degenerative loss of cartilage resulting in bone to bone exposure bone destruction inflammation and pain.
What causes knee osteoarthritis?
Commonly seen in older adults, osteoarthritis of the knee can also affect younger people, especially those who have suffered knee injuries. Post-traumatic arthritis, or arthritis due to a knee injury, is commonly seen in young adults who suffered multiple sports-related knee injuries throughout their lives.
What are the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis?
If you notice any of the following symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, it is important to schedule an evaluation with one of our osteoarthritis doctors at MedStar Health:
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Stiffness and swelling in the knee area
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Difficulty moving the knee
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Knee feels weak and painful
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Knee feels unstable as if it might give way
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Difficulty walking
How is knee arthritis diagnosed?
Our physicians at MedStar Health are experts at diagnosing knee arthritis. Our initial exam generally includes:
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Medical history evaluation – Your physician will spend time speaking with you about any past health conditions, when your pain began, and any other related family and personal medical history.
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Physical exam – During a physical exam, your orthopedist will evaluate your knees and may ask you to describe your pain.
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Imaging tests – If needed, your physician may also recommend diagnostic testing, such as X-rays or MRI to determine the severity of the arthritic damage.
What are the best knee arthritis treatment options?
Knee arthritis treatment can be conservative or surgical.
Conservative options available at the MedStar Health include:
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Physical therapy including anti-gravity treadmills
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Exercise therapy
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Pain and anti-inflammatory medications
If your knee arthritis becomes worse or does not respond to conservative treatment, your physician may recommend osteoarthritis knee surgery at MedStar Health. Many of our advanced surgeries are minimally invasive, which can reduce recovery time. Knee arthritis surgeries offered at MedStar Health include:
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Our providers
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Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgery
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Henry Robert Boucher, MD
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery & Orthopedic Surgery
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Frank Ross Ebert, MD
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery
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Mark David Hasenauer, MD
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery & Orthopedic Surgery
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Brett Russell Levine, MD, MMS
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery
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Robert P McKinstry, MD
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery
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Afamefuna Maxwell Nduaguba, MD
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery
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Ahamefula Elemuwa Onyike, MD
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery
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Kevin Woo Park, MD
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery
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Thomas Milleret Ring, MD
Knee Orthopedic Surgery, Hip Orthopedic Surgery, Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery & Orthopedic Surgery
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Angela Lee Tomaschko, MD
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery
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Kenneth M Vaz, MD
Hip And Knee Orthopedic Surgery
Show All Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
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Erin Farrelly, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Branum Gage Griswold, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Jason Wilson Hammond, MD
Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery
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Jessica B Hawken, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Bruce Knolmayer, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Jon David Koman, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Zan A Naseer, MD
Spine Surgery & Orthopedic Surgery
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Colleen Bauk Balkam, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Ira Dean Gelb, AC, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Sanjog K. Mathur, MBBS
Orthopedic Surgery
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Megan Miles, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Mark Donald Perry, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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David T. Streets, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Patricia Turner, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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William Robert Volk, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
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Bo Zhang, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Show All Orthopedic Surgery