Knee Pain – Could This Be a Symptom of Arthritis?
More and more Americans young and old are suffering from knee pain on a daily basis. The pain may range from mild to severe but debilitating none of the less. Unfortunately, people make the mistake of thinking that they may have a knee injury of some sort but not realizing it may be a symptom of arthritis.
Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects over 40 million Americans over the age of fifty. The symptoms cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected joints. It may also cause joint deformities and restricted range of motion. In the case of knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, the swelling in the knee joints is caused by cartilage damage and sometimes excess mineral deposits in the tissues.
The cartilage in the knee is a protective covering that works to serve as a buffer between bones. The knee cartilage keeps the bones from rubbing against one another. If it wears out through a knee injury or just plain old age, the protection is no long there causing knee pain.
Your diet can also play a role in your susceptibility to knee joint pain. If your diet is constantly high in sugar, this can cause dehydration of the joints because it becomes too concentrated with sugar instead of water. Water is needed for lubrication of the joints for free mobility and other vital tissue function. This is why it is important to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.
Of course not all knee pain is cause by arthritis. However, if the pain is constant and you notice it when walking up stairs, stooping down, or squatting then it might be worth making an appointment to see your doctor. Also you may hear a constant grinding and knee popping which may also be a symptom of osteoarthritis.
Fortunately, there is good news for arthritis pain sufferers. If you indeed find out your are in the early stages of arthritis, there are some very good natural products on the market that have been proven to work.
One natural supplement that is widely used in these products is called Glucosamine. Glucosamine is a natural substance found in shell fish which helps to rebuild damage cartilage. Other supplements such as MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) and Chondroitin are also used in these products. MSM is a natural sulfur compound that helps sweeps away excess mineral deposits and chondroitin is needed to help the body produce more new cartilage.
If you decide that a natural product is the way to go, make sure it has natural ingredients that work together to reduce joint pain and inflammation, help to rebuild damage cartilage, and reduce excess mineral deposits in the joints. You no longer have to suffer from knee pain caused by arthritis. There is help.