Knee Osteoarthritis in Manhattan, NY

Knee osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive degenerative “wear and tear” disease in which the joint cartilage in your knee gradually wears away over time. This can be due to aging, obesity, previous trauma/injury, and/or hereditary factors. It most commonly affects middle-aged and older people. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people around the world.

Generally, the pain associated with arthritis develops gradually, although sudden onset is also possible. The joint may become stiff and swollen, making it difficult to bend or straighten the knee. Pain and swelling are worse in the morning or after a period of inactivity. Pain may also increase after activities such as walking, stair climbing, or kneeling. The pain may often cause a feeling of weakness in the knee, resulting in a “locking” or “buckling” sensation. Patients may also endorse pain with weight bearing and a “crunching” sound when extending and flexing the knee. Many people also report that changes in the weather affect the degree of pain from osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis is caused by the gradual breakdown of cartilage in the knee joint, which can occur due to aging, repetitive stress, or joint injuries. Factors such as obesity, which places additional pressure on the knees, and genetic predisposition can increase the risk. Conditions like joint misalignment or previous trauma to the knee can also accelerate cartilage wear, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility over time.

How quickly does osteoarthritis of the knee progress?
Osteoarthritis progression is different for everyone and depends on multiple factors. In general, osteoarthritis is a slowly-progressing disorder. If you have had prior trauma to the joint or experienced significant wear-and-tear over the years from professional activities or sports, you may expect some symptoms to flare up more noticeably than if you used the joint less.

What are symptoms of knee osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis is tricky because it can creep up on patients. Common signs to look for are persistent stiffness, tenderness, or pain at your knee joint. You may also notice a loss of mobility or flexibility if you are affected by osteoarthritis.

What can I do to treat it?
Common approaches to treating osteoarthritis include SCP therapies and cortisone or other injections, which reduce inflammation at the irritated joint and reduce high-impact activities which create wear. Talk to your provider at Ospina Medical to discuss the ideal treatment route for your specific symptoms and goals.

At Ospina Medical, we are dedicated to helping our patients experience relief from their pain and improve their quality of life. Procedural treatment for knee osteoarthritis includes cortisone or steroid injections into the joint that can help decrease pain and inflammation. We also offer viscosupplementation with hyaluronic acid derivatives that are a non-steroid option to help improve mobility and reduce pain.

If you are looking to avoid surgery and find ways to prevent further worsening of your knee osteoarthritis, Ospina Medical also offers Regenexx regenerative medicine treatments for knee osteoarthritis. By utilizing our cutting edge Regenexx lab platform, we are able to treat knee osteoarthritis with platelet lysate, and bone marrow concentrate containing stem cells. Although this treatment is still considered experimental, by injecting these healing cells into an arthritic knee we are able to provide a healthier environment in the knee joint that promotes healing.

If you suffer from knee osteoarthritis and are seeking non-surgical options, contact Ospina Medical to schedule an appointment and learn more about your treatment options. Our providers specialize in Regenexx treatments that can help heal and restore damaged tissue and improve pain from knee osteoarthritis. Book your consultation at Ospina Medical in Midtown Manhattan today to see if you are a candidate.