How to Know the Causes of Knee Surgery

Arthritis, sports injuries, obesity and chronic pain due to daily wear and tear are the most common causes for knee surgery. Many people suffer knee pain in silence, but this is unnecessary. There are many types of surgeries available for patients of all ages. Knee surgery takes a variety of forms, from arthroscopic day surgery to full knee replacement done under general anesthesia.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Learn to Know the Causes of Knee Surgery

1. Distinguish between rheumatoid arthritis of the knee and osteoarthritis of the knee.

2. Realize that rheumatoid arthritis is caused by white blood cells attacking the fluid around the cartilage.

3. Understand that when the white blood cells attack the knee fluid it causes inflammation, pain and swelling. As a result of rheumatoid arthritis, the cartilage and bone may begin to erode.

4. Recognize that osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear upon the outer layer of knee cartilage.

5. Note that osteoarthritis can lead to loss of motion, misshapen knee caps and painful bone spurs and chips.

6. Know how ligament damage can lead to knee surgery.

7. Learn that anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) tears and medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears are common knees injuries that occur during sports.

8. Discover that torn cartilage, known as a meniscus tear, often occurs in sports and other activities where the knee is subject to sudden twisting.

9. Consider that most ligament and meniscus injuries can be remedied through appropriate surgery and rehabilitation.

10. Consult a doctor immediately for knee injuries which hamper the ability to raise the knee. Restricted knee extension may indicate a ruptured tendon.

11. Consider that ruptured tendons often happen in people who have been taking steroids or in older people engaging in moderate to strenuous exercise.

12. Know that almost all knee injuries involving ruptured tendons will require expedient knee surgery.

13. Evaluate the effect chronic knee pain has on your life. Much of the damage caused by wear and tear on the knee joint can be alleviated through surgery.

Tips & Warnings

• To avoid knee surgery, patients with chronic knee pain due to inflammation often choose to have cortisone shots directly into the knee. By reducing inflammation, the cortisone may also relieve knee pain.
• While cortisone can reduce inflammation and result in significant pain relief, the effect is temporary.
• Multiple cortisone shots may cause additional damage to the joint.
• Many doctors will not administer more than three injections.
• Knee surgery can be put off by wearing supports and braces for your knees. Continued impact on the knee joint even when supported can cause damage that will need more extensive surgery than the original injury.

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