Health Experts Warn: Delaying Knee Arthritis Treatment Can Harm Your Spine

Delaying proper treatment for knee arthritis and ignoring its symptoms can significantly worsen the condition and also lead to spinal damage, ultimately impacting overall quality of life, health experts warned on World Arthritis Day.

Knee arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, is a degenerative joint disease primarily affecting adults, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, which can make daily activities challenging.

Experts emphasize that the consequences of untreated or poorly managed knee arthritis can extend well beyond the knee joint. Dr. L. Tomar from Max Hospital noted that osteoarthritis accounts for over 70 percent of knee arthritis cases.

Osteoarthritis progressively damages the cartilage in the medial (inner) joint compartment, reducing the gap between the bones. Patients with advanced knee arthritis may develop spinal deformities; for instance, walking with a bow-legged gait increases pressure on the lumbar spine, leading to further damage. Dr. Tomar stated that these cases can often be addressed through minimally invasive total knee replacement surgery.

In osteoarthritis, the formation of multiple osteophytes around the joint can severely limit knee movement. Patients with late-stage knee arthritis frequently present with fixed deformities and minimal mobility. Dr. Praveen Gupta from Fortis Hospital highlighted that several neurological symptoms can arise from rheumatological diseases.

For example, inflammatory arthritis can lead to nerve compression syndromes, resulting in pain and numbness. However, these interconnections are often overlooked in clinical practice, primarily due to insufficient knowledge and training in the field.