| There are all kinds of things that can cause knee pain, | | | | patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the knees. Often, it |
| from simple sprains and strains that will heal up in a | | | | is recommended that patients take anti-inflammatory |
| matter of a few weeks, to painful, chronic conditions. | | | | medications, which may be prescription-strength or |
| One chronic condition that is extremely painful is | | | | over-the-counter. Lifestyle changes can also play a |
| rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflammation and | | | | large role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the |
| pain in the knee joints. As a rule, arthritis affects both | | | | knees. Because the knees carry a lot of weight, being |
| knees, so sufferers can't even say that they have a | | | | overweight can aggravate any condition of the knee, |
| "good knee". | | | | including rheumatoid arthritis, so it is a good idea to lose |
| What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? | | | | some of the extra weight. A healthy diet and exercise |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is actually an autoimmune disease, | | | | plan can go a long way in treating this type of |
| and it causes the joints in the body to be pretty much | | | | condition. Often, physicians will recommend that |
| constantly inflamed. In addition, the tissues around the | | | | patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the knees visit a |
| joints, and even some organs, can be affected by this | | | | physiotherapist, where they will be taught specific |
| disease. Rheumatoid arthritis can be found in patients | | | | exercises that are meant to help keep the knees |
| of any age, and can have varying degrees of severity. | | | | functioning properly. A lot of patients also use heat |
| Over time, patients with arthritis will find that their joints | | | | therapy, as well as compression with a knee brace, for |
| may deteriorate, and they will have less and less range | | | | stability and pain relief. |
| of movement. In many cases, patients with chronic | | | | There may come a time when arthritis cannot be |
| arthritis can go many years before their symptoms | | | | successfully treated non-surgically. At this point, the |
| begin to cause real suffering, but, in most cases, the | | | | patient will often need to undergo knee replacement |
| disease will flare up at some point in time. | | | | surgery. This is where the damaged part of the knee |
| Currently there is much research being done to | | | | is removed, and replaced with a prosthesis. This is a |
| discover what actually causes rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | very common procedure, but it does require a few |
| There are a number of possible suspects, but nothing | | | | months of rehabilitation time. |
| has been proven thus far. It is possible that infections | | | | Although it is an extremely painful condition, arthritis in |
| and illnesses that lower the immune system may play | | | | the knees doesn't have to mean that all of the |
| a part in the development of rheumatoid arthritis, but | | | | patient's activities must be limited. It is better to remain |
| again, this is just one possibility. | | | | active and to follow the orders of their physicians. As |
| How to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Knee | | | | long as they are giving their knees the proper |
| There are many non-surgical treatments that have | | | | treatment, they will be able to deal with arthritis much |
| been proven to be quite effective for a number of | | | | more easily. |