As you get older, your body changes, and not often for the better. You may find that your memory is not as sharp and that you are not as physically agile as you once were. It is all part of growing older.
One of the conditions that affects many older persons in Australia is arthritis. It is quite common, but that does not mean it should not be taken seriously. In fact, the Department of Health has even generated a report o dealing with conditions such as this, recognizing that there is a need to have a strategic plan in place to assist with this chronic condition.
Once is recognized is that this is not simply a condition for the elderly. Arthritis is a condition that affects people of all ages, but one of the challenges is that many do not realize that they are suffering from arthritis. They think it is just normal aches and pains when it can be this condition. This is especially true when it is to an area like the knees, a place where people to expect to have some pain and soreness. This means that they do not take action when they should, allowing the condition to become chronic.
If you want to avoid this, here are some symptoms that will tell you that you may have arthritis in your knees.
Pain Begins to Increase During Common Tasks
One of the most common tell-tale signs of arthritis is that common tasks become more painful. When you walk up the stairs, stand up after sitting for an extended time, or find that bending down becomes increasingly more painful, you may have an issue.
Swelling
If your knees are beginning to swell and you have not injured them in a fall or from some other related event, you could very well have arthritis. The joints swell from this condition, and this causes your knees to swell as well.
Your Knees Buckle or Lock
As time goes by, the joint in your knees can become damaged or unstable. This makes it difficult to bend your knee or may cause the knee to become locked. The locking often comes from bone spurs that occur because the bones are allowed to rub together, which causes the spurs. This can lead to irregular formations which lock your leg.
Cracking or Popping Sounds in the Knee
One thing to realize is that your knees will often tell you that there is a problem. One way they do this is when you hear sounds in your knees when they move. It is like a noise you hear in your car that tells you have an issue. In your knee, when you hear a grinding sound, cracking or popping sound, you have an issue.
Range of Motion Changes
If you are finding that your range of motion is declining or that the manner in which you can move your knee is changing, you likely have arthritis. Your joint simply cannot extend or contract as before, or the joint may have become deformed so that you knee bends differently than before.
These are common things you are going to find that tell you that there is an issue with your knee. If are suffering from any of these conditions, it is time to get checked out by your physician.