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How is Osteoarthritis of the Knee Diagnosed?
Diagnosing osteoarthritis of the knee is largely based on symptoms and a physical exam performed by your doctor. Your symptoms will help you to understand the severity of the condition and what treatment path is right for you. At American Knee Pain Centers, one of our affiliated physicians will check your knee joint for tenderness, swelling, redness, and flexibility. Imaging tests, such as X-rays and MRIs, can also aid in determining if knee osteoarthritis is the source of your pain and discomfort and to rule out any other issues.
Knee Osteoarthritis Diagnosis and Tests
During your consultation at American Knee Pain Centers, one of our affiliated physicians will take your medical history and ask about any symptoms you’re experiencing. Afterward, they will conduct a thorough physical exam. If needed, they may recommend one or more of the following tests to confirm a knee osteoarthritis diagnosis.
X-ray
Although cartilage doesn’t show up on X-ray images, cartilage loss is revealed by a narrowing of the space between the bones in your knee joint. It can also show if bone spurs – tiny protrusions in the joint – are present, which can result from osteoarthritis of the knee.
MRI
Unlike a traditional X-ray, an MRI can show damage to the soft tissue in and around the knee joint. It can also be used to detect tears in soft tissues that may affect joint stability and contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of certain structures inside the body. It can be used to view small changes in tissues of the knee joint, such as cysts, fluid build-up, cartilage breakdown, thickening of synovium, or bone spurs.
Blood Tests
There are no blood tests that can diagnose knee osteoarthritis on their own. However, your doctor may order them to rule out other causes of joint pain and inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, that require different treatments.
Joint Fusion Analysis
Fluid drawn from the knee joint can offer insights into what’s happening with the joint. The fluid is tested for inflammation and to determine whether your pain is due to gout or an infection rather than osteoarthritis.
Are you tired of knee pain holding you back? Take the first step towards getting back to an active life by requesting an appointment at American Knee Pain Centers today!
What to Do After You Are Diagnosed with Knee Osteoarthritis
Once you’ve been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, one of our affiliated physicians will go over all of the treatment options available to you. Treatment should focus on easing your symptoms and making you feel as comfortable as possible. Although it can be frustrating to cope with the reality of living with knee osteoarthritis, there are lifestyle changes and steps you can take to control your knee pain, such as:
- Applying ice or heat to reduce pain
- Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight
- Not engaging in repetitive, high-impact exercises
- Wearing comfortable shoes
- Doing low-impact activities such as swimming, biking, and walking
Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis
A care plan for knee osteoarthritis often starts with conservative treatment methods like physical therapy, gel injections or cortisone shots, and pain medication. In some cases, depending on the severity of your condition, these may not be effective. Our affiliated physicians at American Knee Pain Centers offer genicular artery embolization, a minimally invasive-image guided procedure to relieve knee pain and other symptoms. GAE provides several benefits over traditional surgery and other non-surgical methods for patients with osteoarthritis, including:
- Outpatient procedure
- No hospital stay
- Less risk of complications
- Shorter recovery time
- Reduced knee pain and inflammation
- Improved symptoms for 1 to 3 years
Our Knee Pain Specialists
Our affiliated knee pain specialists in New York and New Jersey are some of the nation’s most well-respected and experienced providers of endovascular care. They use state-of-the-art technology and innovative techniques to perform procedures, such as genicular artery embolization for knee osteoarthritis. Schedule an appointment with one of our affiliated physicians in NY or NJ today!
What Our Patients Are Saying
Don’t let knee pain limit your life any longer! Schedule an appointment with our specialist to start your pain-free journey today.