Knee arthritis symptoms and treatment - Everything You Need To Know - Dr. Nabil Ebraheim

Dr. Ebraheim’s educational animated video describes the condition of arthitis of the knee

Arthritis of the Knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee is the most common cause of arthritis of the knee. The patient will complain of pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased range of motion of the knee. In arthritis, the cartilage of the knee gets worn off. The meniscus which absorbs the shock, becomes degenerated and tears. With time, there will be more and more degeneration, and the joint space will narrow. When the cushion of the cartilage is completely lost, the bone will rub against bone, causing severe symptoms to the patient with severe pain, inability to walk, a lot of swelling with the knee, and “giving way” (knee will be unstable). The x-ray will show arthritis. When you ask the patient to stand or walk, the alignment of the lower extremity is lost, and the patient may have varus or valgus malalignment. Arthritis can be mild, moderate, or severe. For mild osteoarthritis of the knee, the patient will have some discomfort, and the x-rays can appear normal. The fabric of the articular cartilage breaks down. This can be controlled by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, weight loss and therapy. For moderate osteoarthritis, there will be narrowing of the joint space on x-ray due to degeneration of the cartilage. There will be cysts in the subchondral space located underneath the cartilage, and there may be some osteophytes or bony spurs. The joint will no longer be smooth (joint surface is roughened with cracks and fissures). The patient’s pain will be worse with more swelling. Treatment can include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, weight loss and exercise, steroid injections, or platelets and stem cells. For severe osteoarthritis, the condition of the knee is bad. The joint space is severely narrowed with total destruction of the cartilage. The knee is swollen and painful with more osteophytes, and the bone is rubbing against the bone, and no cartilage is left. There is no cushion and nothing to absorb the shock of the weight, so the condition becomes very painful. Because the patient is walking on their own bone, there will be decreased activity, and the patient will have an inferior quality of life. Surgery is the best option for the patient and surgery is usually done by a total knee replacement.

[kentuckyearl]

Very helpful. I had x-rays and was told I had bad arthritis in my knees, the right knee being worse. That made sense because it swells a lot worse and more often. The pain is getting old, especially working 50+ hrs a week. Regular over the counter meds does nothing anymore. I really don't understand why many doctors are not this in depth. This man just put a short video on YouTube and told me more than what I paid other doctors to do.

[theblessedone]

The best explanation even’ thanks a lot.

[serenaykiremitcioglu]

I can say the video is so elucidator as a physiotherapy and rehabilitation student, thanks alot Dr. Ebraheim!

[Beast]

Thank you…this is very helpful in understanding all the structures in the knee, and how severe osteoarthritis affects them.

[KellyRichards-nx]

Thank you Doctor great explanation and helpful 🙏

[lisabekessy]

Many thanks, I now understand better than the way my Dr explained. Very useful.

[pauljohnson]

Very helpful video, I understand completely what's going on with my knee. I'm in the severe stage

[smithrk]

👏🏆Dr. Ebraheim, thanks so much for a Great and Informative video!! I look forward to viewing future ones on the body's anatomy. "Early prevention is the BEST protection." God Bless you and take care.

[mtgne]

Very thanks. I am 70.
I have played sports all my life and now I have just this problem in my left knee. I'm willing to undergo a joint replacement.

[donnascheible]

Excellent, well understood by the average person.

[country_roadsWV]

Thank you for your well explained video.

As a professional cleaner - I walk many miles a day. Bending. Flexing. Stooping.
And lots of physical exertion to detail clean and maintaining floors. It is an occupation I enjoy - but - I am realizing as I age at 45 years old; the wear and tear it is doing to my joints in knees and feet.

I have bunions on both feet and also visible bone spur on left foot now that just became apparent a few days ago after having intense left knee pain for 3 days.

My left knee pain is gone and mobility is restored now.

But the visible and swollen bone spur of my left foot now on top of foot is also painfully apparent now too.

The left knee had pain when moving and bending and swelling. I alternated using my right knee more and slowed down how I worked when left knee pain and inflammation happened to it.

I use Tiger Balm almost daily for pain on the joints.

I also sleep in a recliner at night and have for a decade to keep my feet elevated and it does decrease swelling.

I also bought a knee brace to sleep with at night now.

As I sleep with a right hand splint on and gloves on my hands to improve circulation and decrease swelling that carpal tunnel has done to my hands after working almost a decade in typing and administrative jobs - when younger --- before I transitioned to the cleaning industry.

I feel like the knee splint is helping my knee because it holds it immobile at night and the propping up in a recliner also alleviates joint pressures that can occur while sleeping.

I know the techniques you mentioned here are also beneficial.

But I am surprised how night time splints are not discussed more as a viable option to decrease stress off of joints.

Splints can improve circulation and decrease the swelling that can occur by the immobility and proper alignment that splints can do to help joints - as one sleeps.

I have not had my knee officially diagnosed for cartilage loss or potential arthritis or bone spurs.

However, I feel I have a higher suspectibility to bone spurs as my podiatrist wanted to do bunion removal and shave off the non-visible bone spurs of my feet that scans did detect I had in 2013.

So I feel like over production of bone spurs in just something I am susceptible too because of the unhealthy experiences of both of my feet with the bone deformities in them.

Decades of physical work is taking its toll by my wearing out my joints.

I don't take any OTC medications and abstain from surgeries because everything I read of bone spurs, bunions, and even total knee replacements are not always successful -as your video validates this also.

I have a very high pain tolerance. And as long as I can move - I keep moving. OTC and prescription pain and inflammation meds or injections are not options for me.

Thank you for the detailed explanation. It is harder getting older and I learned more from your video than paying doctors that have no permanent successful solutions.

All I hear is just relief of symptoms and my methods of sleeping in a recliner at night and drinking lots of water to stay hydrated and using splints at night and Tiger Balm ointment seems to be the course of action that works for me to keep me moving.

I wish others success in finding what works for them.

I don't have weeks to ever sit down and recover from any surgery and surgeries are not options for me in anything.

Even when - my body parts and joints start wearing out for good; I thank God every day I am still mobile. And can tolerate the pains that arise.

And I am thankful to you and others who share your videos. It's expensive buying customized inserts and shoes catering to my bunions.

And a splint for night is cheaper on my left knee as a night time relief than anything else I have found.

Tiger Balm ointment has been the pain relief ointment I have also found. I would assume that the menthol in it helps improve circulation that also decreases the inflammation that helps decrease swelling to help symptoms. I call Tiger Balm my WD40 for joints. Lol

[shawandastaggers]

Thank you so much. This has explained everything in great detail. Just diagnosed with moderate tricompartmental osteoporosis and this helped me understand it better than that pamphlet the dr gave smh 🤦🏽‍♀️

[margaretcorfield]

I was diagnosed with arthritis in both knees and hips some 15 years ago. Unsurprisingly it has gotten worse over time. However, while I suffered a lot of swelling 15 years ago, my knees, although more painful ( my right knee is painful even at rest) don't swell up any more. There is a grating sound when I move them. I can no longer straighten my right leg without considerable pain, but can still walk reasonable distances (10 minutes or so) before needing to rest. I can go up and down stairs and steps, provided I do not lead with my right leg going up, but do lead with it going down. The joint in that leg has also become unstable, but my legs are straight. The worst is the pain at night. I do take ibuprofen for it.

[chrisg]

Simple, direct and informative. Is it possible for cartilage, the ligments and the miniscus to heal over time?

[anjukarikan]

Hi Doc. I have subscribed to your channel as I found this so informative. I have arthritis on both knees . The right knee is more a problem than the left knee at the moment. I have found your videos very interesting and has answered all my questions. Strange u go to an orthopedic surgeon but they never explain as well as you do. I have done many xrays on my knees and the reports look scary and the first thing the surgeons want to do is a knee replacement BUT when I assess these reports myself, I dont think I need one. I cycle, I do many knee strengthening exercises and take the correct medication. What I am trying to say is patients themselves must know their needs. The orthopedic surgeon that I saw immediately suggested knee replacement just by reading my report. So I went for second opinion. He saw the report and immediately said the condition is bad . I sat and explained what the real problem with my knee is. I can walk for long distances and sometimes do more than the required 6000 steps. But there is discomfort and pain up and down the stairs. Stiffness in the inner knee of my right leg which causes pain when my knee takes the weight when I am climbing up stairs or down stairs so I usually take one step at a time to avoid pain. Otherwise I am fine. No continuous swelling or continuous pain. So I suggested to doc to please do an arthroscopy to clean out whatever is causing that stiffness. The report said loose bodies present. Hopefully my knee feels better after this treatment. Please advise doc if there is any kind of lubricant that the surgeon can pump into my knee to replace the cartilage that has worn out. Than you doc.🙏

[tinadavis]

Thank you so Much Dr. Nabril Abraham You explained it so good in your Video I feel all my questions are answered except 1 and that is a question about getting an Othroscopic surgery is it worth it? Or will it benefit me little to nothing? Also if I get it will I be able to run and jump hard like off a hiking hill? Again after this surgery? Please help me to know this? Before I get that surgery in a week

[kgck]

excellent video!. What about partial replacement surgery, is it something that should be considered?

[sandrapanico]

This is very informative. I’ve already lost nearly thirty pounds and I have mild to moderate osteoarthritis in my right knee. I can hear clicking every time I go up or down stairs and I do feel a grinding sensation too. My left knee makes more noise but it’s in my right predominately. Will an MRI tell me what stage I’m in?

[ramanirajarajan]

I am in early arthritis stage. I am 53 now. Took medicines prescribed by Dr. For about 2 months. Then i drank home made goat leg soup and ate the leg flesh too. I noticed drastic pain relief the next day itself. This was my food for lunch. Afraid of the cholesterol content the whole day i was engaging in some physical activity. Now i take once a week and later have planned to take once a month. For the past one month i didn't take any medicines. And now i am about 80 percent normal. If anyone gets well please reply. I will be very happy.

[joewahrerMotorcycleMan]

It was very helpful and "thank-you" for posting it. I've been struggling with what I would say would be "moderate to sever" condition for 10 years. My doctor said he would do the TKR anytime I said let's do it. Here is my question, I recently started PT and it has changed my life. I no longer limp and my knee is getting stronger by the day. Could my VARUS go away in time? Should I stop my every 3 month Steroid Injection? Would you be interested in seeing me as a patient to advise me? I'm about 100 miles away from Toledo, Ohio and will gladly come for an appointment.