Knee Arthritis

Knee arthritis is a common cause of pain, swelling and stiffness in the knee. Knee arthritis is uncomfortable and can make it difficult to run, climb stairs and play sport. The London Orthopaedic Clinic offers the very latest treatments from world-leading knee specialists to reduce the pain of knee arthritis, restore movement and help you live a full and active life.

There is no cure for arthritis but there are a range of effective treatments to ease symptoms and improve function. Anti-inflammatories, steroid injections and specialist physiotherapy can relieve pain, reduce stiffness and enhance your knee’s range of movement. If these measures have not helped, the expert orthopaedic surgeons can operate on your knee in the London Orthopaedic Clinic’s state-of-the-art operating theatres. Following surgery, the expert multidisciplinary team will support your rehabilitation and help you regain fitness, strength and confidence.

What is knee arthritis?

Knee arthritis is a condition characterised by painful inflammation and stiffness in the knee joint. It can develop as a result of overuse, injury or inflammatory diseases.

The most common cause of knee arthritis is osteoarthritis, which develops as a result of ongoing wear and tear to the joint. However, there are over a hundred different types of arthritis; post-traumatic arthritis following damage to the cartilage or ligaments in the knee and rheumatoid arthritis also frequently cause arthritis in the knee joint.

Osteoarthritis causes progressive damage to the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones that form the knee joint and the back of the knee cap or patella. The cartilage acts as a shock-absorber and helps the bones move smoothly over each other. As the cartilage degenerates, it becomes thin, rough and ragged. Over time, the protective joint space gets narrower and eventually bone starts to rub against bone, which is painful and can lead to the formation of bony lumps or spurs.

Symptoms of knee arthritis?

Knee osteoarthritis causes pain and stiffness that typically develops slowly and gets worse over time. The pain is often triggered by movement, bending the knee and climbing or descending stairs. You may notice that the joint crackles or creaks and, as the condition develops, the knee can look swollen or deformed. Many people find that their knee feels weak and that movement is restricted. Some people can’t fully straighten or bend their knee, and loose cartilage fragments can make the knee lock or stick when it is moved.

The symptoms of knee arthritis sometimes come on suddenly. The knee may feel increasing painful, hot and swollen especially in people with inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

How can the London Orthopaedic Clinic help with knee arthritis?

The specialist orthopaedic surgeons at the London Orthopaedic Clinic provide expert diagnosis and cutting-edge treatment for knee arthritis. They will make a detailed evaluation of the health and function of your knee and the effect your symptoms have on your lifestyle.

Your consultant will arrange all relevant blood tests to exclude inflammatory conditions and organise investigation by X-ray and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the cutting-edge imaging suite. MRI helps determine the health of the bone and soft tissues, providing detailed information about the knee joint, so that the specialist can tailor a comprehensive treatment programme for your needs. This can include:

Non-surgical options

The London Orthopeadic Clinic offers a range of non-surgical pain management options:

Lifestyle advice

Physical pain treatments

Physiotherapy
The London Orthopaedic Clinic works with many specialist physiotherapy teams. They can provide expert guidance on ways to modify your activities to reduce stress on your joints, prescribe a tailored programme of exercises and use massage, ultrasound or laser to provide symptomatic relief. They can also prescribe supports, braces and splints as needed.

Shockwave therapy
A non-invasive therapy that uses high energy sound waves to treat chronic pain without injections, medication or surgery.The shockwaves stimulate your body's inflammatory response, increasing blood flow and accelerating your natural healing processes.

Medical pain treatments

Medications have been the mainstay of treatment for many people living with arthritis. Drugs come with side effects, so they have to be monitored, but they still play an important role as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to reduce musculoskeletal pain and improve your function. Medications include:

Topical anti-inflammatory gel.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen. These effectively treat joint pain, but can irritate the stomach causing ulcers and bleeding.
Painkillers including paracetamol and opioid analgesics. Opioids can cause drowsiness and constipation and should be taken under close medical supervision.
Muscle relaxants can ease muscle spasms.
Certain antidepressants and antiepileptic medications can treat chronic pain and help with pain-related insomnia.

Injections for pain management

The London Orthopaedic Clinic provides a comprehensive range of the latest novel and biologic injections to treat joint pain and osteoarthritis.
The consultant orthopaedic surgeons and pain management specialists always perform joint injections under ultrasound guidance, ensuring precise placement, reduced complications and optimum results. Injectable treatments include:

Arthrosamid® injections
Injections of a non-degradable hydrogel to cushion and lubricate the knee joint. If you have knee osteoarthritis, Arthrosamid® provides safe, effective and sustained pain relief without surgery. A single Arthrosamid® injection can relieve the pain and stiffness of knee osteoarthritis for up to 2 years.
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nSTRIDE® injections
The next generation of platelet-rich plasma or PRP. nSTRIDE® is an autologous (meaning from your own body) protein solution therapy or APS. nSTRIDE® is an innovative biologic treatment for knee osteoarthritis. It harnesses your body’s natural healing powers to treat joint pain and help you regain mobility and function.
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ACP/PRP injections
Autologous-conditioned Plasma/Platelet Rich Plasma therapy is a biologic treatment for pain and swelling in your joints or soft tissue, in which a sample of your blood will be taken before being spun in a centrifuge to extract and concentrate the platelets and plasma prior to being injected into your damaged joint or inflamed tendon. ACP/PRP therapy uses your innate healing capabilities to treat osteoarthritis and tendinopathies to reduce pain.
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Viscosupplement injections
Injections of a naturally occurring substance called hyaluronic acid into a joint. The hyaluronic acid acts as a shock absorber and lubricant, helping the bones move more smoothly over each other. Hyaluronic acid injections like Ostenil® Plus can decrease the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis.
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Steroid injections
Injections of local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroid medication into the joint to treat inflammation and reduce pain.
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Surgical options

Knee arthroscopy: Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive or ‘keyhole’ procedure that can help if your knee is locking or giving way. A number of tiny incisions are made in the skin over the knee. Your surgeon then inserts a narrow telescope attached to a camera. The device relays images to a computer screen so that the joint can be fully inspected. Fine specialist instruments are inserted to allow the surgeon to clean out the joint, trim ragged cartilage and remove any bone spurs and loose fragments or bone or cartilage.

Partial or total knee replacement: Knee replacement involves removing the damaged joint surfaces and replacing them with one of the latest high-tech prosthetic devices. Your consultant surgeon will recommend the best procedure and prosthesis for you following a full evaluation of your knee.

Knee replacement surgery is one of the most frequently performed orthopaedic operations. Success rates are excellent, with surgery offering immediate relief of pain and a high level of patient satisfaction.

Why choose the London Orthopaedic Clinic?

The London Orthopaedic Clinic provides high-quality, expert orthopaedic and musculoskeletal care, tailored to the individual needs of our patients. The Clinic is based at Mayo Clinic Healthcare, at the heart of London’s internationally renowned Harley Street medical district. The London Orthopaedic Clinic offers cutting-edge diagnostics, treatment, management and personalised care.

The expert multi-disciplinary team includes more than 25 leading orthopaedic surgeons, pain management specialists and radiologists. They work together to reduce pain, improve movement and make a real difference to patients’ lives.

The London Orthopaedic Clinic offers patients something truly unique: access to world-leading experts, high-tech imaging and the latest innovative treatments, together with the feeling of trust and safety of a small family practice.

Knee arthritis treatment costs

The investigation and treatment of knee arthritis at the London Orthopaedic Clinic may be covered by your health insurance policy. Competitive packages are also available for patients who are self-paying. Contact a member of our friendly team on 020 7186 1000 or at info@londonorthopaedic.com to find out more.