As it does to any other joint of the body, arthritis wallops the knee quite slowly. It begins quietly, but over time, causes bone spurts to develop and the joint space to narrow. When not properly managed, arthritis can eventually cause cartilage breakdown and irreversible knee damage.
It stands to reason that if you’re having achy, stiff, and/or creaky knee, and you suspect that you have arthritis, don’t wait to see an orthopedic surgeon. Below are just two of the ways knee arthritis can make daily living difficult – the very reasons you will not want to delay seeking treatment for it.
Knee Arthritis Can Deprive You of Sleep
The pain, stiffness, and swelling associated with knee arthritis can understandably make dozing off and staying asleep a tall order.
Statistics show that more than 70 percent of people with arthritis have painsomnia – a patient-generated term for difficulty sleeping. Researchers ascribe this to a nervous system disorder known as central desensitization, which lowers a person’s pain threshold and makes them hypersensitive to stimuli from things that are not usually painful.
Knee Arthritis Can Take a Real Toll on Your Mental Health
As if sleep deprivation weren’t already miserable enough, it can exacerbate joint pain. This vicious cycle can ultimately affect your sense of well-being and mental health, as it can cause you to stop socializing and many other things that you enjoy. With lifestyle disruption comes isolation, which then creates a void. Depression then sets in.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 20 percent of adults living with arthritis in the United States are dealing with symptoms of anxiety or depression. These are especially prevalent among women; or people in the LGBT community, with coexisting chronic conditions, who are disabled, or who are unemployed.
Knee Arthritis Treatment in Ellicott City, MD
Knee arthritis may not be easy to live with, but there is a lot that you can do to not only cope with but overcome the challenges that it presents.
For top-notch knee arthritis treatment in Ellicott City, visit us here at Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons – who are perennial Baltimore Magazine Top Doctor awardees – are recognized for their expertise, compassionate approach to care, and passion to deliver the best possible treatment outcomes for the full range of musculoskeletal problems, including knee arthritis. You can count on them to help you feel better, move more, and thrive!
Book your visit with one of our knee surgeons today. Call our friendly staff at (410) 644-1880 or simply submit an appointment request using this form.
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