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Knee Instability: A Sign of Osteoarthritis
Imagine this: You’re taking a walk when suddenly your knees give way and buckle beneath you. It’s like the ground just disappears, sending you lurching and your heart racing. This unsettling feeling is a common symptom of osteoarthritis of the knee, a condition that wears down the cartilage in your knee joint. This wear and tear can loosen the ligaments that hold your knee bones in place gradually, making it feel wobbly and unpredictable. Knee instability can be frustrating, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Many people with osteoarthritis deal with knee instability, and there are things you can do to manage it. Understanding the link between osteoarthritis and knee instability can help you take back control of your knees and get you moving with confidence again.
Knee Instability Symptoms
The most common symptom of knee instability is the feeling of giving way, which is described as a sensation of the knee buckling or collapsing suddenly, especially during weight-bearing activities like walking. Other key symptoms to watch out for are the following:
- Difficulty with balance and coordination
- Difficulty straightening the knee
- Decreased range of motion
- Increased knee pain during activities
- Lack of confidence in the knee
- Looseness
- Muscle weakness
- Popping, clicking, or catching sensations
- Swelling and inflammation
Knee Instability Causes
Knee instability can be caused by a variety of factors affecting the structures that support and guide your knee joint. Osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the most common contributing factors to knee instability. Some other common culprits include:
- ACL tears from sports
- PCL tears from falls
- MCL tears from twisting the knee
- LCL tears on the outer side of the knee
- Meniscus tears
- Patellar instability
- Rheumatoid arthritis
How Does Osteoarthritis Cause Knee Instability?
Osteoarthritis, while primarily known for causing pain and stiffness, can also lead to a feeling of instability in the knee. The smooth, cushiony cartilage lining your knee joint plays a crucial role in stabilizing the joint and guiding its movement. As osteoarthritis progresses, this cartilage gradually wears down, reducing its ability to absorb shock and distribute pressure evenly. This lack of proper cushioning can lead to a feeling of instability in the knee. Surrounding the knee joint are also various ligaments that provide stability and control its range of motion. Osteoarthritis can weaken these ligaments over time, making them less effective in keeping the bones aligned and preventing excessive movement, which further contributes to knee instability.
The pain and limitations associated with osteoarthritis can often lead to decreased use of the muscles around the knee. This muscle weakness and imbalance can impair your ability to properly control and stabilize the joint, resulting in a feeling of instability. In some cases, osteoarthritis can even trigger fluid build-up within the joint capsule, a condition known as joint effusion. This excess fluid can stretch the joint capsule and surrounding tissues, leading to a feeling of looseness and instability in the knee. The pain associated with osteoarthritis can also unconsciously alter your gait and movement patterns. You may subconsciously avoid putting full weight on the affected knee, leading to compensatory movements that can further compromise joint stability and contribute to a feeling of instability. The severity and pattern of knee instability in osteoarthritis can vary depending on the extent of cartilage damage, the location of the affected area, and individual factors like age and activity level.
Knee Instability Treatment
Early intervention and management of knee instability can help slow down the progression of osteoarthritis, improve joint stability, and reduce your risk of injury. If you’re experiencing knee instability along with pain and stiffness, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and personalized treatment. At American Knee Pain Centers, we offer genicular artery embolization (GAE), a minimally invasive treatment that helps you regain control, reduce knee pain, and enjoy greater mobility. Alongside this cutting-edge treatment, our affiliated interventional radiologists offer recommendations for lifestyle changes to improve instability.
Lifestyle Changes
If you’re experiencing knee instability due to osteoarthritis, your doctor may recommend various lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms and improve the stability of your knees. Some lifestyle modifications your doctor may suggest are muscle-strengthening exercises to provide better support and stability to the joint, low-impact exercises to maintain joint health, maintaining a healthy weight to reduce the stress in your knee joints, and rest, ice, and elevation to reduce pain and swelling.
GAE: Knee Replacement Alternative
Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a minimally invasive treatment for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee that can help improve instability. GAE is primarily used for moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis that hasn’t responded to other treatments like medication, physical therapy, or corticosteroid injections. It’s also a less invasive alternative to traditional knee replacement surgery, with a shorter recovery time and fewer complications. Although GAE is not a cure for osteoarthritis, it effectively reduces knee pain and instability for 1-3 years, compared to knee injections that may only provide relief and improve symptoms for up to 2-3 months.
What to Expect from Genicular Artery Embolization
Our Knee Pain Specialists
Our affiliated physicians at American Knee Pain Centers are board-certified interventional radiologists who specialize in treating osteoarthritis of the knee. Our knee pain specialists in New York and New Jersey recognize that each individual is unique and tailor our services to address your specific symptoms and concerns. They use innovative image-guided technology and genicular artery embolization to provide you with relief from knee pain and instability. You can find the following knee pain doctors at our New York and New Jersey locations.
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Don’t let knee pain limit your life any longer! Schedule an appointment with our specialist to start your pain-free journey today.