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Dr Tabane MoagiSpecialist Orthopaedic Surgeon

Condition

Knee arthritis

Wear of the cartilage in the knee, so the joint becomes painful, stiff and sometimes bowed or knock-kneed.

What it usually feels like

  • Aching after standing or walking
  • Morning stiffness
  • Grinding or crunching with movement

Common causes

  • Age and wear
  • Previous meniscus or ligament injury
  • Extra body weight
  • Previous fracture through the joint

Treatment

How this is treated

Treatment starts with the least invasive option that is likely to work.

  1. Step 1

    Weight loss and quadriceps strengthening, which genuinely reduce pain

  2. Step 2

    Pain medication and injections

  3. Step 3

    Partial or total knee replacement when the joint is worn through

See related treatmentsBook a Consultation

Do not wait

When to be seen urgently

  • Pain at rest and at night
  • You can no longer manage everyday walking

This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Only an examination can tell you what is wrong with your joint.

If you need help now

Outside consulting hours, report to the Casualty Department at Netcare Ferncrest Hospital or Life Peglerae Hospital in Rustenburg. If the injury is life-threatening, call 10177 immediately. Please do not use the enquiry form for an emergency.

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