Conditions

Osteoarthritis is a common condition where the cartilage protecting the surface of your joints becomes worn and damaged. This leads to increased friction, which prevents the joint from moving as it should and can lead to the joint becoming swollen.

While osteoarthritis can affect any joint, it most commonly affects those which bear most weight, such as the knee and hip.

• Age – osteoarthritis tends to affect people as they age, due to wear and tear on the joints
• Weight – being overweight is a factor as it places the joints under more stress. This can be a significant factor in early-onset osteoarthritis
• Injury – a significant injury (particularly sports-related) can increase the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis at a later date
• Joint disease – damage caused by diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis can subsequently lead to osteoarthritis

Typically, symptoms will vary with the severity of the condition, but can include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling around the joint
• Crepitus (crunching sounds when you move)

It’s important to keep an eye on your symptoms and seek help. If caught early, the condition can be managed through medicine and lifestyle changes. If the damage is severe, then surgery can provide a safe pathway back to an active lifestyle.

Many people confuse sprains and strains.

A sprain occurs when the ligaments become stretched, twisted or torn.
A strain occurs when the muscle fibres become stretched or torn.

While being distinct conditions, they have similar symptoms – which can include:

• Bruising
• Pain
• Swelling
• Tenderness

While common, these aren’t the only conditions that can go hand-in-hand with an active lifestyle. Knee injuries are common due to twisting, pivoting and wear and tear and can include:

• Cartilage damage - high impact sports can cause damage to the cartilage. While minor injuries can heal on their own with proper rest, more serious cases can require surgery.
• Runner’s knee - over time, the knee can become sore, with pain underneath or to the side of your kneecap
• Tendonitis - the inflammation of a tendon following injury

Knee ligament injuries can result in sudden and very severe pain.

You may notice:

• A pop or snapping sound at the time of the injury
• Swelling at the injury site
• Severe pain when you try to bear any weight on your knee

In some cases, particularly with cruciate ligament tears, you may need surgery to preserve the future stability of your knee.

You’ll need to seek medical attention, and a doctor will be able to advise you on the treatment options available and the best course of action for you.

Key things to look out for include:

• A popping sound at the time of injury
• Difficulty bending or straightening your leg
• Pain in your knee
• Swelling of the knee
• The knee becoming stuck, or locked in a certain position

When diagnosing a meniscus tear, your doctor will give you a thorough examination and ask lots of detailed questions about the injury and how it happened. You may need an X-ray or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan, to give the consultant a clearer picture of the damage sustained.

Your consultant will discuss treatment options with you, and these will depend on the nature and severity of the injury, as well as your age and activity level and related injuries.

It’s important to remember that not all meniscal tears end up in surgery. In many cases, non-surgical treatment, including rest, anti-inflammatory medication and strengthening exercises can prove very successful in bringing down the recovery time from a torn meniscus.

Mr Carrington offers diagnosis and treatment  for all sorts of conditions. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to help minimize the pain and help the natural healing process.

These include:

• Anti-inflammatories: These will help to manage pain and swelling. Always make sure you follow the instructions.
• Apply a cold compress or ice: This will ease the pain and reduce swelling
• Bandage your knee: An elastic bandage or dressing to wrap the joint will help to reduce swelling and give extra support.
• Elevate your knee: Keeping your knee raised when sitting or lying down to will help to reduce swelling.
• Rest: Taking some time away from physical exercise will help the injury heal.
• Stretch and strengthen: Your doctor may advise doing exercises or physical therapy to aid your recovery.

There are steps you can take to reduce your chances of injuring your knee.

These include:

• Stretch before and after any workout or exercise.
• Increase your workout intensity gradually.
• Wear well-fitting trainers/running shoes that offer good support.
• If you feel pain in your knee, stop exercising immediately.
• If you’re overweight, you’re putting more stress on your knees. Losing excess weight can help, as long as you stay within a healthy range.

Sometimes, prosthetic knee implants can fail through injury or wear and tear. This tends to be more common in people who have a knee replacement at a young age and who return to an active lifestyle. The wear and tear on the implant can mean they require a second later on.

Occasionally, a patient can get an infection at the site of an implant. This is rare and happens in fewer than 1% of procedures, but usually entails revision surgery.

If the soft tissue around the knee is damaged, out of balance or otherwise unable to provide stability while standing or walking.