Ah, arthritis. We’ve heard this word before at least once in our lives. It is a condition that is usually associated with old age. This condition can affect any of the joints in the body.
There are more than 100 different types of arthritis that exist. The types that are most likely to affect the knee include:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the one you’ll most likely bump into on this list. Sometimes called degenerative arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage in your knee deteriorates as you get old and as you use it.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This type of arthritis is the most annoying and the most debilitating form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that can affect almost any joint in your body, including your knees. Despite being a chronic disease, severity varies from person to person and may even come and go.
Gout
What do you get when uric acid crystals build up in the joint? An irritating little devil called Gout. While gout most commonly affects the big toe, it can also occur in the knee.
Pseudogout
Pseudogout is a clone of gout. Pseudogout is caused by calcium-containing crystals as opposed to uric acid. These develop in the joint fluid. Knees are the most common joint affected by pseudogout.
Septic arthritis
Sometimes your knee joint can become infected, leading to swelling, pain, and redness. Septic arthritis often occurs with a fever, and there’s usually no trauma before the onset of pain.
Septic arthritis can quickly cause extensive damage to the knee cartilage. If you have knee pain with any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.