Knee Pain When Bending - Do You Have Osteoarthritis Or Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Millions of people experience knee pain when bending, but of course that's not to say they have some sort of serious illness. To the contrary, knee pain can more often than not be attributed to an injury. Even a minor knock can result in knee pain, and quite often, one does not even feel the pain immediately. Knee pain can also be caused by several other things apart from personal injuries. Having said all that, arthritis is a leading cause of knee pain.
If you find the pain in your knees tends to be at its worst in the morning when you wake up, or after you have been sitting still for a relatively long period of time, you should seriously seek a professional opinion because this sort of pattern is typical of arthritis.
There are several different forms of arthritis, although in truth, most sufferers have either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Contrary to popular belief, the two are vastly different apart from the fact that both forms can cause severe pain, and even serious disability.
Generally speaking, osteoarthritis tends to strike people over the age of fifty, and it occurs just as frequently in men as it does in women. Rheumatoid arthritis on the other hand can strike any time, although it usually occurs after the age of about forty. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is more prevalent amongst women, and especially amongst women in industrialized countries.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in one's joints begins to lose its elasticity. When this happens, the cartilage soon begins to deteriorate, until eventually parts of the joint are fully exposed. With no cartilage in place, any movement of the affected joint will result in the bones rubbing against each other. The resultant pain can and often is enough to make movement of the joint impossible.
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the body attacking the synovial membrane that protects one's joints. While it is generally not considered to be as serious as osteoarthritis, it too can be crippling. A common telltale sign of this disease is severe swelling around any affected joints. While it can affect several joints in the body, fingers are usually the first to suffer.
Both of these diseases can be treated, although the effectiveness of treatment differs from one person to the next. How effective treatment is depends on several factors, including age, level of fitness, general health, and of course the severity of the condition. Symptoms are also often made worse by extremely cold conditions.
Apart from prescription meds, there are also a number of homeopathic remedies on the market, and many sufferers are able to lead a perfectly normal life using only these types of remedies. In fact, countless people have found that they can greatly reduce their discomfort simply by taking a good quality fish oil supplement, or any similar supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids. Whatever you do, if you experience knee pain when bending, it is crucial that you see your doctor for a professional opinion.
