Treating mid-stage arthritis for happier life during old age

By Kang Tae-Hwan

The knee joint is one of the most important joints in our daily lives, as it allows us to walk, run, walk up the stairs, and squat.

Thus, many patients who visit the hospital experience pain while doing the above activities.

Knee pain is not only limited to the elderly who go through degenerative problems, ultimately requiring knee joint replacement surgery; it is also common among fairly young people who are actively engaged in sports activities.

As there are different causes of knee pain, the treatment method should differ based on age, occupation, and level of activity among patients.

Patients in their 40s and 50s often ask whether they have arthritis when they come in for their consultation.

Knee degenerative arthritis is a very common disease among the middle aged, and it affects the damaged cartilage or meniscus due to overuse of knee.

Can an orthopedic specialist immediately answer the question of whether the patient has arthritis? In most cases, if the arthritis is not severe, it is difficult to observe through a simple X-ray test.

Thus, it is difficult to give a certain immediate answer to the patient. However, through physical examination, analysis of medical history, and MRI exam, one can provide a more accurate diagnosis of the patient’s condition.

Thus, if the knee pain persists for a long period of time, then an MRI exam is recommended to better understand the level of damage to the articular cartilage and meniscus.

With this information, an orthopedic specialist can provide the tailored treatment based on the individual’s condition to slow down the progression of arthritis and even prevent it.

Furthermore, orthopedic specialists pay close attention to the alignment of the lower extremities when treating knee pain.

In patients with bowed legs, their weight is not aligned to the center of the knee.

When this happens, the weight on the inner part of knee increases, and no weight is put on the outer part of knee, ultimately causing an imbalance of weight bearing on the knee joint.

Thus, people with bowed legs are likely to experience knee arthritis more often than others without bowed legs, and they may experience faster progression of arthritis after it has occurred.

For such patients, it is hard to reach satisfying results just by taking medications or receiving treatment for the meniscus or cartilage.

In the past, medications were used to slow down the progression of the arthritis, and the joint replacement surgery was performed.

However, new ways of treatment have been introduced, including a treatment that preserves the joint and improves the arthritis.

One method is through stem cell treatment, and another is with high tibial osteotomy surgery, a surgery that corrects the bowed leg condition.

These two treatments were introduced to minimize the risk and remedy the shortcomings of joint replacement surgery.

Stem cell treatment uses stem cells to promote recovery to normal cartilage. High tibial osteotomy is usually performed on relatively younger arthritis patients, preferably those in their 40s and 50s, with bowed legs.

By aligning the leg joint to balance the weight bearing on the knees, such patients can experience alleviated knee pain and the promotion of the recovery of the joint.

As discussed above, the mid-stage of arthritis is a critical stage, as later stages necessitate joint replacement surgery.

Depending on which treatment method is selected, treatment can have a great impact on a patient’s daily life and joint condition. While the joint replacement surgery technique and artificial joint improves the condition immensely, it is always best to preserve our own joints as much as possible.

Thus, if a patient experiences knee pain, it is recommended that he or she consult with an orthopedic specialist to receive an accurate diagnosis and the correct treatment to prepare for a more active and happier lifestyle during old age.

The writer is specialist of orthopedic surgery at Bumin Hospital Seoul in Gangseo District.