Dr. Rahul Kalekar
MBBS, DNB, D.ORTHO, FIJR — Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
What is Knee Osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of articular cartilage — the protective cushion covering the ends of the thigh and shin bones. As cartilage thins, friction increases during walking, leading to deep knee pain, stiffness, crepitus, and joint inflammation. Understanding your joint health early allows for targeted conservative therapies that preserve your natural knee.
Recognizing Early Warning Signs of Knee Cartilage Wear
Osteoarthritis typically develops gradually over months or years. Key early symptoms include:
- Morning joint stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes that improves with gentle movement
- Deep aching pain in the knee joint during or after long walks, climbing stairs, or squatting
- Crepitus — a distinct grinding or crackling sound/sensation during knee bending
- Mild swelling or tightness around the knee cap after physical exertion
- Loss of full flexional range, making sitting cross-legged or squatting difficult
When Should You See a Doctor?
If knee pain forces you to limp, wakes you up at night, or if you experience sudden knee swelling or locking, schedule a consultation with an orthopaedic specialist immediately. Early intervention significantly delays the need for surgery.
4 Pillars of Non-Surgical Joint Preservation
Before surgical intervention is ever considered, evidence-based conservative care can stall disease progression:
- Weight Management: Every kilogram of weight lost reduces mechanical load on the knee joint by 4 kilograms during walking.
- Quadriceps & Hamstring Strengthening: Targeted low-impact exercises build surrounding muscle support, stabilizing the knee.
- Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid (Viscosupplementation): Lubricating gel injections restore joint fluid viscosity and reduce pain.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Concentrated growth factors injected into the joint reduce chronic synovial inflammation.
When to Consider Joint Replacement Surgery
When conservative measures no longer relieve constant severe pain or when joint deformity severely restricts daily living, Total Knee Replacement (TKR) offers excellent pain relief and mobility restoration. Modern robotic-assisted TKR provides sub-millimeter precision, leading to faster recovery and natural feeling joint movement.