Understanding Osteoarthritis in Knees - Degenerative Arthritis - Knee Pain

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative arthritis, is a leading cause of pain and disability in senior citizens. Caregivers often assist people who have arthritic knees. The arthritis can be slight, causing a low level of pain, or severe, perhaps causing enough pain so that someone has to use a wheelchair. At medicinenet.com osteoarthritis in the knees is described as a thinning of the cartilage that cushions the bones in the knee joint. Some causes of degenerative arthritis include aging, trauma to the knee, surgery to the joint, obesity, gout, or diabetes.

Medicinenet.com explains that if the cushion of cartilage is completely gone, there is friction between the bones in the knee, which can be extremely painful. A knee replacement may then be considered.

The website says some of the ways arthritis pain in the knees may be treated include weight reduction, avoiding activity that puts stress on the knee, medication to decrease inflammation, cortisone injections, cold or heat therapy, and support devices such as knee braces, canes or walkers.