Arthritis: What Causes It and How Do You Treat It?

May is Arthritis Awareness Month

Pain of the hip and knee joint can be present due to several varying reasons. Broadly, these can be separated into causes inside the joint and outside the joint. When the cause of hip or knee pain is within the joint, this is commonly due to underlying arthritis.

There are many types of arthritis. These include osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The most common being osteoarthritis or “wear and tear” arthritis. Osteoarthritis can be caused by several factors, including advancing age, genetics, and metabolism. These lead to the breakdown of cartilage within the joint, resulting in inflammation. This breakdown of cartilage and resulting inflammation often presents with symptoms of activity related pain and stiffness. These symptoms can make daily activities such as walking and doing stairs difficult. They can negatively impact a patient’s quality of life.

Treatment for hip and knee arthritis can be separated into non operative and operative options. I recommend starting with non-operative treatment options. This can include over the counter medications (ex: Tylenol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), bracing, walking aides, physical therapy, or injections. When these treatments are no longer effective at relieving pain, joint replacement surgery is often suggested. Surgery can reduce pain and inflammation, restore the mechanics of the joint, improve function, and get patients back to the quality of life they’re seeking.

Joint replacement surgery replaces the remaining cartilage and bone with prosthetic implants. This provides a new, friction-free surface for weight bearing, motion, and activity. I recommend patients consider a joint replacement surgery when they have end-stage arthritis. This occurs when their pain bothers them more days than not, is negatively impacting their quality of life, and they’ve exhausted non-operative treatment options.

For additional information about treatment options for hip and knee joint pain, watch Dr. Vaux and Dr. Taylor Lara explain the causes of joint pain, tips for managing joint pain, and modern techniques for the treatment of joint pain.

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Dr. Jonathan Vaux, DO is an Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in arthritis of the hip and knee at the Saint Alphonsus Joint Preservation & Reconstruction in Boise, Idaho.