Knee Osteoarthritis

What is

When a knee is healthy, it allows the flexion of the leg, its extension and daily situations such as bending and squatting. This is possible thanks to the good function of the elements that are part of it such as the meniscus, ligaments and cartilage among others. This last one is a tissue with ideal characteristics to allow the protection function of the knee, however, unlike other types of tissues such as muscles, tendons and bones, it cannot be cured and that is why we must try to take care of it and provide the conditions for it to last for many years.

 

Maintaining an adequate weight, proper nutrition, performing daily activities with consistency, and maintaining an adequate physical condition will help preserve the structure of this cartilage. When the cartilage deteriorates, the bones that form part of the knee suffer impacts and wear and tear that over time generate symptoms such as pain, functional disability and diminished faculties.

Causes

Several factors increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee. Below, we will review the most important ones:

  • Age: the cartilage’s low capacity for repair decreases every year, to which we have to add the wear and tear that occurs.
  • Obesity: given its key location in the legs, this joint is directly overloaded in situations involving excessive weight.
  • Hereditary factors: the shape of our legs, of our pelvis conditions a direct overload of this joint.
  • Injuries: meniscus and ligament injuries directly lead to increased wear and tear of the joint.

Symptoms

The symptoms accompanying osteoarthritis generally do not appear suddenly, but develop over the years. The most frequent are:

  • Pain in the area that is no longer protected due to cartilage wear.
  • The crunching sounds that occur when the joint wears out.
  • The effusion that produces inflammation that is triggered in an unprotected joint.
  • The daily and continuous shock of bones devoid of cartilage.
  • Decreased mobility.

Approach protocol

Diagnosis and assessment

A correct medical evaluation by means of a good anamnesis and physical examination will be necessary. The multidisciplinary vision is essential for a comprehensive, personalized approach, focused on achieving a prolonged relief of pain depending on the phase in which it is found.

Complementary tests

X-ray and/or MRI may be performed.

Treatment

The treatment of this pathology will depend to a large extent on the patient’s condition, age and symptoms, the condition of the cartilage, the degree of osteoarthritis in the joint and how much of the total joint is affected by osteoarthritis will determine the approach to be followed. Below, we outline some of the possible treatments:

  • Pharmacological treatments such as dietary supplements to improve cartilage condition and/or drugs to relieve pain.
  • Hyaluronic Acid Blocks
  • Corticosteroid blockades
  • Regenerative medicine
    • Platelet-rich plasma: the compound extracted from the patient’s own blood has a concentrate of anti-inflammatory factors and cytokines that make it very useful for this pathology.
    • Cytokine-rich serum: this is a different process to platelet-rich plasma in which a compound rich in anti-inflammatory cytokines is also obtained from the blood.
    • Stem cells: originating from the patient’s bone or fat, they have a regenerative and anti-inflammatory power that makes them a unique treatment for pain relief.
  • Radiofrequency
  • Physiotherapy: methodology based on knowledge and clinical reasoning in which we combine a series of techniques and treatments both manual therapy and invasive techniques, always associated or complementing them with cutting-edge technology that allows us to accelerate the recovery process. Among other high-tech devices include Magnetolith, SIS, focal shock waves, Indiba, among others. This therapeutic combination allows us to activate the patient early to begin with a routine and a process of specific therapeutic exercises that allow us to enhance and strengthen the lost functional patterns.

Here begins your life without pain

Our customers say

Muy contenta con la atención recibida. Son grandes profesionales y el trato es excelente. El personal de recepción es muy amable y siempre te hace sentir bienvenido. ¡Totalmente recomendable!
Inma Robles
2 days ago
Estoy altamente satisfecha con el trato recibido, revolución de mi problema al 100%. Amabilidad, profesionalidad y eficiencia .. qué mas se puede pedir. Muy recomendable. Muchas gracias por vuestra ayuda 😊
david R.W
6 days ago
Hola buenos día quería compartir mi experiencia después de dos semanas de hospitales con infiltraciones y hincharme a medicación para tumbar a un caballo menos mal que tomé la decisión de visitar ala unida del dolor 1 que todo felicitar Dr Jorge orduña Valls un profesional y con mucha paciencia me lo explicó todo muy bien y supo en todo momento donde estaba el problema y felicitar a todo su equipo médico y Camila y rocio que en todo momento me ayudaron a toda la gestión y se preocuparon por todo muchas gracias
Estem molt contents, personal molt agradable i molt eficients.
Araceli Nieto
6 days ago
Todo perfecto
Tombus Akdeniz
1 week ago
Javier Carmona
1 week ago
Esto si es una unidad del dolor con un gran médico al frente y un gran equipo atención diez y lo más importante escucha al paciente, empatía,amable, recomendable 100% seguimos
Vull agrair molt l’atenció rebuda al Centre MIVI i, especialment, al Dr. Francisco Duca, que m’ha tractat l’esquena. Em van fer una infiltració i una rizòlisi, i en tot moment em vaig sentir molt ben atesa, escoltada i acompanyada. Tant el doctor com tot l’equip han estat molt pendents de mi, amb un tracte proper, humà i molt amable, cosa que s’agraeix molt quan passes per un procés així. El Dr. Duca m’ha transmès confiança i professionalitat, explicant-me les coses amb claredat i cuidant tots els detalls. Recomano molt el Centre MIVI pel tracte rebut, per l’amabilitat de tot l’equip i per la qualitat de l’atenció.
Y T
2 weeks ago
Quiero expresar mi más sincero agradecimiento al equipo de la Unidad del Dolor MIVI Tenerife (Quirón). Son grandes profesionales y, sobre todo, personas cercanas, atentas y muy humanas. Después de dos años con un dolor insoportable y de recorrer muchísimos médicos sin encontrar una solución, llegué a ellos. Este doctor ha sido el primero que después de este tiempo de dolor ,realmente me escuchó y encontró el tratamiento que me devolvió la calidad de vida. Además, las enfermeras son increíbles. Siempre están pendientes de ti, te llaman para saber cómo te encuentras y gestionan las citas con una eficacia excepcional. Gracias de corazón por vuestra profesionalidad, cercanía y dedicación. Os recomendaré siempre. Yuraima Gutiérrez

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