Give Heartburn The Heave-Ho: Tips For Easing Discomfort

I developed intense heartburn during my second pregnancy. I tried every pregnancy-safe home remedy I could find and nothing seemed to work. I was hopeful that once my daughter was born, it would improve. When it didn't, I spent a lot of time working with an internal medicine specialist and researching remedies online. I've found many different things that help in different ways. I decided to create this site to document the solutions that I've found and help others to find a way to manage their chronic heartburn as well. If you're struggling with persistent heartburn, I hope this information helps you find relief.

Four Things You Should Know About Osteoarthritis Of The Knee

Health & Medical Blog

Chronic pain affects 100 million people in the United States, with the second leading cause of chronic pain being felt in the knee. When it comes to general knee pain, about one-third of all Americans have felt pain in their knee at some point in time. Knee pain is usually caused when the knee is bearing too much weight. However, there are other causes for knee pain, one of which is osteoarthritis.

In order to help you better understand this debilitating condition, here are four things you should know about osteoarthritis of the knee.

1. Osteoarthritis of the Knee is a Degenerative Condition

When something slowly deteriorates over time, it is considered degenerative. Since osteoarthritis of the knee is a degenerative condition, it means once the knee is affected by arthritis, the knee will start to slowly deteriorate.

This occurs because when the cartilage of the knee cap breaks down, it reduces the amount of cushioning that is present. Eventually, bone will begin rubbing against bone, which is very painful.

2. Causes of Osteoarthritis of the Knee

As mentioned previously, when the knee bears too much weight, it causes knee pain, which can lead to osteoarthritis. Some other causes of osteoarthritis include:

  • Wear and tear on the knee from getting older
  • Repetitive joint injuries
  • Congenital defects of the bone and joint

This disorder is also more common when there are other conditions present, such as rheumatoid arthritis or certain metabolic disorders.

3. Symptoms of Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Pain in the knee is the most common and obvious symptom of this joint disorder. Other common symptoms include:

  • Stiffness in the knee, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods of time
  • Feeling a sense of warmth in the knee joint
  • Swelling in the knee
  • The knee joint makes clicking or cracking noises

When these symptoms are present, it's important to seek medical attention before the knee begins to deteriorate any further.

4. Treatment Options for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Treatment options largely depend on the cause of the disorder. For instance, if osteoarthritis of the knee is caused by bearing too much weight, shedding some pounds can help to alleviate the condition.

Physical therapy and cortisone injections can also help. If the pain is severe or the knee joint is deteriorating badly, joint replacement surgery may be necessary. After surgery, orthopedic rehabilitation services will be needed in order to gain the full benefit of the surgery.

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24 October 2018