Wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage of the knee, causing pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. Treatment ranges from physiotherapy to partial or total knee replacement.
Audience:
Adult
Region:
Knee
Type:
Sometimes Surgical
Recovery:
Variable
Knee osteoarthritis is the gradual wearing of the smooth cartilage that lines the knee joint. As this cartilage thins, the bones beneath start to rub more directly against one another — and that's what produces the familiar pattern of pain and stiffness.
It's the most common form of arthritis in the knee, and it tends to develop slowly over many years. Genetics, previous injuries, weight and activity history all play a role, but it's not always possible to point to a single cause.
The severity varies enormously. Some people have mild symptoms that come and go for years. Others experience pain that gradually changes how they move, sleep and live their daily lives.
The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness, particularly:
After rest, easing as you get moving
After prolonged activity, particularly walking, standing or stairs
At night, sometimes disturbing sleep
With weather changes — many people notice this, though the science behind it is debated
You may also notice swelling that comes and goes, a grating or clicking sensation, a feeling that the knee is stiffening up over time, or difficulty fully straightening or bending the knee.
Symptoms tend to wax and wane. A bad week doesn't always mean things are getting worse, and a good month doesn't always mean they're getting better. Looking at the longer trajectory matters more than any single snapshot.
Diagnosis combines what you describe with what's seen on examination — how the knee moves, where it's tender, and whether there are signs of swelling or alignment issues.
X-rays are typically used to confirm the diagnosis and assess severity. An MRI is sometimes useful if there's a question of whether other problems — such as a meniscus tear — are contributing to the symptoms.
Importantly, X-ray findings and symptoms don't always match neatly. Some people have significant changes on imaging but few symptoms; others have severe pain with relatively mild-looking scans. The clinical picture matters as much as the images.
Treatment depends heavily on how much your symptoms are affecting your life — not just how the knee looks on a scan. Many people with knee osteoarthritis manage well with a combination of physiotherapy, weight management, activity modification and pain relief. Others benefit from injections, and some, eventually, need surgery — partial or total knee replacement.
Surgery is rarely the first step. The right time to consider it varies from person to person and depends on your symptoms, your goals and how non-surgical options have worked for you. Nev will work through this with you at your consultation, so any decision is made with a clear understanding of where you are and what your options actually look like.
Seek a specialist assessment if:
Knee pain is interfering with sleep or daily activities
You're avoiding things you'd like to be doing
Pain or stiffness is getting steadily worse over months
Previous treatments haven't worked as well as you'd hoped
You want a clear picture of where you are and what your options are — surgical or otherwise
Osteoarthritis isn't a condition that needs to be silently endured. The right plan, started at the right time, makes a real difference.
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