Knee complaints and solutions for the senior age group

Author Dr. Zoltán Bejek | 2020.07.08.

What can I do if I have advanced knee osteoarthritis?

For advanced cartilage damage in the knee joint prosthesis implantation may provide a solution. A special knee prosthesis is surgically implanted into the knee joint to replace the cartilage that has been removed. After the operation, there is a rehabilitation period of a few months, but with the help of the specialist's prescriptions and regular exercise, the knee can move again without pain and the quality of life can return to what it was before.

Arthritis is the most common cause of knee pain

Another common cause of knee pain in older people is arthritis. Inflammation is often associated with swelling, reddening of the skin and severe pain. The cause is diagnosed by a specialist on the basis of a thorough examination and appropriate therapy is recommended. The development of arthritis is influenced by a number of lifestyle factors, which you should pay attention to. One of the most important of these factors is excess weight. In many cases knee arthritis symptoms are relieved by weight loss alone. It is also worth paying attention to exercise: neither a sedentary lifestyle nor excessive activity is good for your joints. For the elderly, instead of kneeling, running, jumping or lifting weights, other forms of joint-friendly exercise such as cycling, walking or physiotherapy. Other predisposing factors include smoking, insufficient fluid intake and previous knee injuries.

The consequence of neglected cartilage wear

Neglected cartilage wear or arthritis can also result in other changes in the knee joint, such as the so-called "osteoarthritis of the knee". Baker cyst. When this happens, synovial fluid is overproduced and accumulates in the knee joint, forming a cyst. In addition to the symptoms of the underlying cause of the problem, there is increased pressure in the knee and, as the cyst grows, the knee may become less flexible and may even press on the surrounding blood vessels. To treat it, it is necessary to diagnose the exact cause of its appearance, and by treating the primary lesion, the Baker's cyst is likely to regress. If the cyst is large and stubborn, synovial fluid aspiration (puncture) or surgical removal of the cyst may be an option. In such cases but the treatment of the underlying disease should not be neglected, because if the underlying cause persists, the cyst may return.

In the case of knee pain at a senior age, it is not worth waiting for time to heal! Contact our knee specialist orthopaedic surgeons, who use their knowledge and experience to recommend the best solution for each patient to get rid of pain.