Navigating osteoarthritis from early stiffness to surgery: A Q&A with Dr. Parimal Acharya
Summary
Osteoarthritis can begin with mild knee pain, stiffness, and difficulty climbing stairs, then gradually make walking and daily tasks harder. Dr. Parimal Acharya explains how it is diagnosed, managed with exercise and weight control, and when knee replacement may be needed.
Key Points
- Osteoarthritis often starts with mild pain, stiffness, and discomfort during walking, stairs, or standing after sitting.
- Risk increases with age, obesity, inactivity, old injuries, sports injuries, and ligament damage, but it can also affect younger people.
- Diagnosis relies on symptoms, history, physical examination, and sometimes X-rays or MRI, but imaging alone is not enough.
- Early treatment focuses on exercise, physiotherapy, weight control, and medicines, while advanced cases may require knee replacement.
