Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee happens when cartilage in your knee joint breaks down. When this happens, the bones in your knee joint begin rubbing together, causing friction which leads to pain, stiffness and swelling. Osteoarthritis of the knee can’t be cured, but often symptoms can be alleviated through pain medications, physical therapy, and healthy lifestyle changes.  

Symptoms

• Stiff feeling knees, especially after long periods of sitting. 
• Swelling or puffiness around the knee. 
• Hearing cracking or grinding noises when you move your knee. 
• Knees that feel unstable, as if they don’t fully support your body.  
• Feeling as if your knee is stuck after mild or strenuous activity.  

Causes and Risk Factors

• Obesity – If your BMI is 30 or more, your risks of developing osteoarthritis of the knee become significantly higher. 
• Age, most commonly between the ages of 40 – 80. 

• New or previous knee injury. 
• Frequent, strenuous use of the knee from exercise, sports, or a physically demanding job. 
• Genetic conditions that make you more susceptible to osteoarthritis.  

When should you schedule an appointment?

If you believe you have knee osteoarthritis, your first step should be making an appointment with your primary care physician. They will evaluate your condition and suggest conservative therapies that they determine necessary, which may include treatments such as pain medications, knee brace, physical therapy, or steroid injections. 

If you have consistently followed guidance for conservative treatment, still do not see adequate relief, and are being faced with options of continued injections that provide short-term relief or knee replacement surgery, that’s where we come in!  

Vascular Solutions of North Carolina is proud to be among the first in our area to offer a new, cutting-edge procedure that allows patients suffering with knee osteoarthritis the ability to find relief with minimal downtime and long-lasting results. Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a new minimally invasive procedure providing immediate and long-term pain relief for patients with osteoarthritis (OA) Call us today to schedule a consultation and see this service is right for you!