What's Causing Your Knee Pain?

What's Causing Your Knee Pain?

If you're experiencing frequent knee pain or stiffness, it's important to find out why — because it may be a form of arthritis.

There are many types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gout, but the most common type is osteoarthritis (OA).

What is osteoarthritis of the knee?

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a condition that causes a breakdown of the cartilage and joint fluid in the knee. This can make bones rub against each other, causing pain, stiffness and loss of movement in the joint. By contrast, in a healthy knee the cartilage and lubricating joint fluid protect and cushion the bones, making moving and bending easy.

What are the symptoms?

OA of the knee usually develops slowly and gradually worsens over time. Symptoms can develop in one or both knees, and the pain can range from mild to very severe. You may experience:

• Pain during movement and even at rest
• A grating sensation in the joint during movement
• Stiffness after periods of rest
• Joint swelling
• Loss of range of movement
• Loss of coordination
• Weakened posture due to pain and stiffness

The symptoms of OA are treatable, especially in the early stages of the disease. If you have pain or stiffness in one or both knees, contact your doctor to find out if you have OA.

OA risk factors: Am I at risk?

There is no one cause of OA of the knee, but certain factors may put you at higher risk for developing the condition. These include:

• Age— Your chance of getting OA of the knee increases with age; most people develop the condition after age 45.
• Obesity— Extra weight puts strain on the knees.
• Gender— Certain kinds of OA are more common in women.
• Heredity— Inherited traits can affect the shape and stability of the joints.
• Injury or overuse— Previous knee injuries and activities that involve a lot of bending can increase your risk.

If you have any of these OA risk factors, talk to your doctor about your knee pain.

Be proactive. Get diagnosed.

Early diagnosis is the key to getting the relief you need. That's why, the sooner you talk to your doctor about knee pain, the better. When you meet with your doctor, he or she can perform an assessment of your symptoms and develop a treatment program that's right for you.

What to expect at your doctor's visit.

While there is no specific test for osteoarthritis, there are many tools that doctors use to diagnose knee pain. When you go in for your visit, your doctor is likely to take a medical history and perform a physical exam. To make a diagnosis, your doctor may also use lab tests, joint aspiration or imaging techniques, like X-rays.

If your doctor finds that you do have OA of the knee, there are many different options that can be used to reduce OA knee pain. Again, the key is early diagnosis. So why continue to live with discomfort? Talk to your doctor so you can get on the appropriate treatment program.

Your treatment options.

There isn't a cure for OA of the knee, but there are several treatments that can help reduce your pain. Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following:

• Oral medications — Over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen may help relieve your knee pain. Talk with your doctor about the proper dosage since some pain relievers can cause stomach or heart problems.
• Viscosupplements — Injections in the knee, like Synvisc-One® (hylan G-F 20) that supplement your knee fluid and relieve pain. A single injection with Synvisc-One can provide up to six months of pain relief. The injection can be repeated safely if your knee pain returns.
• Steroid injections — These injections are used to temporarily relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Typically doctors limit the number of steroid injections due to the potential risk of cartilage damage with frequent, long-term use.
• Surgery — This option is often considered when knee pain is severe and other treatments have not provided relief.

This article is brought to you by Genzyme, the makers of Synvisc-One.Synvisc-One is the first and only treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee that can provide up to six months of knee pain relief with just one injection.To learn more, click here for a FREE information kit.

Tylenol is a registered trademark of McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, a Division of McNeil-PPC, Inc.

Synvisc-One is a registered trademark of Genzyme Corporation.

SONE-00293.A 11/2009

Synvisc-One Important Safety Information

Synvisc-One® (hylan G-F 20) is used to relieve knee pain due to osteoarthritis (OA). It is for patients who do not get enough relief from simple painkillers such as acetaminophen, or from exercise and physical therapy. Synvisc-One is generally well tolerated. However, it may not work for everyone. The side effects most commonly seen in a medical study were knee pain, stiffness, and swelling or fluid buildup in or around the knee. Side effects were generally mild to moderate and did not last long. More severe side effects have been reported only rarely in routine clinical use. Other side effects, such as rash, may also occur. Before trying Synvisc-One, tell your doctor if you are allergic to products from birds — such as feathers, eggs or poultry — or if your leg is swollen or infected. Talk to your doctor before resuming strenuous weight — bearing activities after treatment. Synvisc-One has not been tested in children, pregnant women or women who are nursing. You should tell your doctor if you think you are pregnant or if you are nursing a child.