Knee arthritis
Knee arthritis is a common form of arthritis that can hold you back. If knee arthritis is causing you discomfort, our leading consultants are here to offer expert advice and industry-leading treatments.
At HCA UK:
- See a consultant specialising in knee arthritis for fast diagnosis and effective treatment
- Secure your appointment with a specialist knee consultant in 24 hours
- All diagnostic imaging is reported on by specialist musculoskeletal radiologists
- Receive treatment by the number one private provider of orthopaedic care in London (as reported by PHIN)
What is knee arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints in millions of people in the UK. Knee arthritis refers to inflammation and deterioration of the cartilage in your knee joint, which should act as cushioning for your bones and allow you to bend and straighten your knee smoothly.
This cartilage covers the end of your thigh bone (femur), the top of the shinbone (tibia) and the backside of your kneecap (patella). Healthy cartilage is smooth but worn cartilage causes the space between these bones to narrow, eventually leading to them rubbing together and forming bumps known as spurs.
The condition is more common in older individuals. As arthritis develops over time, the level of pain and discomfort typically increases. This causes a gradual loss of mobility, which can have a negative impact on your physical and mental well-being.
What are the different types of knee arthritis?
There are many different types of arthritis that can affect the knee joint. Among the most common types are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis.
Osteoarthritis in the knee
When people refer to arthritis, they're usually referring to osteoarthritis. More common as we age, osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that's caused by the cartilage in the knee joint wearing away over time, eventually leading to your bones rubbing together.
Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee
Another form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can affect individuals of any age. Although rheumatoid arthritis can be present in the knee joints, it usually affects other areas of the body including the hands, wrists and feet.
Unlike osteoarthritis, which is the result of wear and tear over time, RA causes the joint lining to become inflamed, damaging healthy tissue. This tissue damage is what causes pain and swelling. Accurately diagnosing the type of arthritis that's causing your knee pain is crucial in deciding the most effective treatment method.
Post-traumatic knee arthritis
Post-traumatic arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that occurs after sudden trauma to your knee, rather than a more gradual development. Common causes of this trauma include contact sports and road accidents, leading to pain, stiffness and limited movement. These symptoms may not appear consistently until years after the trauma occurred, however, as your cartilage will continue wearing down over time.
What are the symptoms of arthritis in the knee?
Knee arthritis symptoms can vary depending on the type of arthritis you have. Common signs of arthritis in the knee include:
- Pain in your knee that’s made worse by certain movements and activities such as prolonged standing, walking, crouching or climbing stairs
- Stiffness in your knee joint that restricts your ability to bend or straighten it
- Swelling of the knee joint that can also appear red and be hot to the touch
- A catching or locking sensation in your knee. This occurs due to damaged cartilage obstructing the smooth movement of your joint and can be accompanied by a cracking, crunching or clicking sound
- Weakness in your knee. If the pain of arthritis is causing you to limit your movement, your surrounding leg muscles can weaken and cause further weakness in your knee joint.
What causes arthritis of the knee joint?
Arthritis in the knee is caused by a range of factors, including:
- Injuries: If you've hurt your knee playing sports or following an accident, this increases the chances of arthritis developing in your knee joint
- Repetitive strain: If you regularly put your knee joints under strain, you may be more likely to develop arthritis
- Genetics: Some people are born with bone and cartilage issues that can increase the risk of developing arthritis. It’s possible to inherit rheumatoid arthritis, but the chances are low
- Age: Your risk of arthritis increases as you get older and your bones become more fragile. Cartilage also loses some of its ability to provide cushioning, increasing the risk of arthritis.
- Gender: Women are more likely to develop arthritis than men because of the way female bodies are designed. As women are designed to give birth, the tendons and joints are less rigid. This increases the likelihood of injury and arthritis. Women also tend to have wider hips than men, which means that the knee alignment can make women more susceptible to various injuries later in life. The female immune system is also more reactive. As rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, women are almost three times as likely to develop the condition than men
- Weight: Being overweight can increase strain on your knee joints over time and contribute to you developing arthritis.
How is knee arthritis diagnosed?
If you're experiencing some of the symptoms of knee arthritis and it's causing pain and discomfort, book an appointment to see one of our knee specialists. One of our knee consultants will determine the cause of your pain. During your initial appointment, one of our knee specialists will discuss your symptoms and medical history with you before conducting a physical examination.
You may be asked to perform some basic leg exercises while lying down, but only if you're physically able to. Your consultant will also manipulate your knee joint to see how it responds to different movements. Once your initial examination is complete, your consultant may arrange blood tests (if they suspect RA, for example) to identify certain markers.
Your consultant will usually request imaging too. This is because imaging highlights the space between the bones of the knee joint. If this space narrows, it could indicate a problem with your cartilage. Imaging can also show bone spurs and cysts, which can develop into osteoarthritis if left untreated. You might need to have one or more of the following:
If you're diagnosed with knee arthritis, your consultant will discuss the treatment options with you. They'll always recommend the least invasive treatment for arthritis in your knee first. Once you’ve explored the different treatment options available, you’ll be able to work with your consultant to decide the best way to proceed.
What are the treatment options for arthritis in the knee?
If you're living with painful arthritis in your knee and can no longer do the things you want to do, there are plenty of treatment options to help you get back on your feet. If your symptoms are mild to moderate, you might be able to conservatively manage your symptoms to reduce discomfort. Some potential treatments include:
- Activity modifications: Changing your exercise regime can help reduce painful flare-ups. If you're suffering from knee arthritis, try to avoid high-impact exercises like running or jumping
- Lifestyle modifications: Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the stress on your knees. Losing weight can help minimise some of the symptoms of knee arthritis
- Medications and injections: Anti-inflammatory medicines or corticosteroid injections can provide relief from knee pain caused by arthritis. Your consultant will be able to recommend the most effective medication. Which option you're recommended will depend on the type of arthritis you have
- Physiotherapy for knee arthritis: Regular exercise and movement of the joint can help alleviate knee pain. Our specialist physiotherapists will provide you with exercises to reduce pain and increase your flexibility and strength. They'll also manipulate and massage the joint to relax the muscles and improve your range of motion.
What surgical options are used to treat arthritis of the knee?
If you've tried non-surgical treatment options but pain or poor mobility is still holding you back, knee surgery might be necessary to get you back to your regular activities. The procedures available with HCA UK include:
- Knee arthroscopy: Your consultant will insert a tiny camera (arthroscope) inside your knee to examine the joint. This is done through a small incision. By seeing the knee cartilage, joint lining and ligaments, your consultant can accurately diagnose the cause of your knee pain. If necessary, surgical instruments can be inserted via another incision to conduct treatment at the same time
- Knee realignment surgery: This surgery can provide relief from knee pain and delay, or in some cases eliminate, the need for a knee replacement operation
- Partial knee replacement: Arthritis can sometimes only affect one compartment of the knee, meaning the other compartments can be retained. It's a less invasive treatment than a full knee replacement and is often recommended for younger, more active patients
- Total knee replacement: This is a procedure to replace all compartments of your damaged knee joint with a prosthesis.
Your consultant will discuss the most effective treatment options with you during your initial consultation.
FAQs about arthritis in the knee
Knee arthritis is a serious condition that can make everyday activities a challenge. If left untreated, the symptoms are likely to worsen and your knee joint can deteriorate. With the right treatment, many people can expect to see a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. It's always best to see a specialist if you think you might have knee arthritis.
Although the risk of developing osteoarthritis increases as we age, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to avoid its onset. The most common advice for individuals with arthritis is to maintain an ideal body weight, avoid overusing damaged joints (for example, avoid running if you're suffering from knee arthritis), and follow a specialised exercise plan to strengthen the muscles surrounding the affected area.
Many people with arthritis worry that movement will increase their knee pain or damage the already-weakened knee joint, but the opposite can be true. As long as you're not putting undue stress on your knee joints, exercise can help reduce your knee pain.
Our experienced team of musculoskeletal physiotherapists can work with you throughout your treatment for knee arthritis. They'll be able to assess your mobility and stability in your knee and create a treatment plan that manages the symptoms of your knee arthritis. You'll also be given a list of exercises to do at home to strengthen the muscles around your knee joint.
If your knee arthritis is severe, knee replacement surgery might be the most effective treatment. Our consultants perform over 500 knee replacements each year. Some of the benefits of a knee replacement include:
- Less pain and stiffness in the knee joint
- Improved mobility
- Better quality of life
- Improved ability to exercise and perform other everyday tasks
Although a knee replacement is a routine operation, there are some risks to be aware of. These include:
- Initial pain and stiffness following surgery
- Infection
- Nerve damage around the implant
- Blood clots
- Nausea and sickness from the anaesthesia
To help you make an informed decision about whether you'd like to go down the surgical route, your knee consultant will discuss all the potential benefits and risks with you.
How much your knee surgery costs depends on the treatment you need, such as a partial knee replacement or total knee replacement. Surgery can be paid through medical insurance or directly by an individual, often described as self-pay. If you opt for self-pay, you may be eligible for one of our fixed-price packages for knee replacement surgery. These packages can provide certainty around costs when details such as your length of stay in hospital can vary.
For example, the fixed-price cost of a partial knee replacement starts at £13,287. This includes your pre-assessment, private accommodation at one of our hospitals for a three-night stay, meals and all your take-home medications, plus 30 days of coverage post-operation to ensure any complications relating to the surgery are covered. You can ask about our fixed-price packages when discussing treatment options to find out if you’re eligible.
- Partial knee replacement: £13,287
- Robotic assisted partial knee replacement or custom prothesis: £14,420
- Total knee replacement: £15,708
- Robotic assisted total knee replacement or custom prothesis: £16,892
Your consultant will also tell you if robotic-assisted surgery could be suitable for your condition. We use robotic technology to help plan some knee replacements by determining the exact size, placement and positioning of the replacement implant. Our orthopaedic consultants have performed over 1,000 of these surgeries to date, resulting in faster recovery times with reduced pain.
Why choose HCA for knee arthritis treatment?
Here are some of the reasons why we're a great choice for knee arthritis treatment:
- Fast access to the care you need: We'll confirm your appointment with one of our expert knee specialists within 24 hours
- Advanced imaging facilities: To accurately diagnose your knee arthritis, we use X-rays, MRI scans and CT scans at our diagnostic centres. We can usually offer this on the same day as your consultation
- Advanced surgical techniques: If you need surgery you may benefit from the latest robotic assisted procedures which are showing to deliver faster recovery rates. Your consultant will be able to advise if this is relevant to your treatment plan
- We're industry leaders: We're number one in London for private orthopaedic care, based on reports by the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN). We also have the highest proportion of facilities rated 'Outstanding' by the CQC of any private hospital group in the UK
- We're trusted by patients: 97% of our orthopaedic patients rated us as 'very good' or 'excellent' in our 2023 patient satisfaction survey.
Robotic double knee replacement: David's story
David was diagnosed with early arthritis in his mid-50s. His knees deteriorated after completing the London Marathon in 2013, so he got in contact with Mr Rob Pollock at The Princess Grace Hospital. After discovering he had medial compartment osteoarthritis in both knees, David underwent Mako robotic surgery on them both simultaneously and within five months he was back on the golf course.
“I had heard positive things about the shorter recovery time the Mako surgery offers and, indeed, just a few hours after my operation, I started physiotherapy. Three days later, I was walking on crutches, using the stairs and ready to go home – I couldn’t believe it!”
Book an appointment with a knee specialist
Get in touch with us today to book your appointment with one of our knee consultants. We can arrange imaging appointments and physiotherapy treatment for knee arthritis for you too.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.