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Overview
Treatment
Options
OA is the most common form of knee arthritis. It usually
progresses slowly with the joint cartilage gradually
wearing away. It is also referred to as "wear and
tear" arthritis. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis
is an inflammatory type of arthritis that destroys cartilage.
The onset of OA is gradual and symptoms include stiffness
and swelling of the knee leading to reduced mobility.
Pain and swelling are worse after prolonged periods
of inactivity, or after stressful activities like walking,
stair climbing or kneeling. OA is classified into 4
grades, with Grade 1 being the least severe to Grade
4, which is the most severe form of the disease.
Depending on the severity, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, or prescribe drug treatment, steroid injections, viscosupplementation or surgery. |
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