
13 Jan KNEE BONE ON BONE: Pain Management & treatment Options
A healthy knee has cartilage, which is a soft, pliable substance that lies in the space between the bones. Hyaline and articular cartilage are the two forms of cartilage. Your meniscus is composed of the first. Both the right and left sides of your knees have this tissue, which serves as a natural shock absorber. The surface of the bones is covered in articular cartilage. Its smoothness and viscosity enable the joint’s surfaces to slip past one another with little resistance.
“Bone on Bone” refers to the growing severity of osteoarthritis (OA) in a joint. Osteoarthritis is an inflammation of the bones within a joint brought on by a loss of cartilage. In a healthy joint, cartilage aids in the alignment of movement of the joint between the two bones.

Your doctor has informed you that bone on bone pressure within the joint is the cause of your knee discomfort. What does this mean? We must first comprehend the anatomy of a healthy knee before we can examine the reasons for bone-on-bone knee discomfort.
The knee’s ability to absorb stress is reduced as a result of cartilage loss, and each movement increases internal friction. The main cause of degenerative joint disease is osteoarthritis). Inflammatory processes intensify and pressure is put more directly on the bones as your joint tissue deteriorates. Simple movements like standing up from a chair or walking become more painful.
Common knee bone on bone signs and symptoms
How Does Pain in the Bone-on-Bone Knee Feel?
Depending on how severe it is, bone-on-bone knee discomfort brought on by advanced arthritis can differ from person to person. Typically, it will feel like a dull, aching discomfort. However, some people experience a strong ache that alternates between those two characteristics.
For most patients, the area of pain corresponds with the site of bone-on-bone contact. This disorder can develop when the cartilage in a joint is worn away and the bones begin to rub against one another.
It is important to remember that arthritic pain is usually localized. Normally, it doesn’t radiate. Unlike other joint problems, which might affect numerous body parts, knee pain only hurts in the affected knee. As an illustration of radiating pain, consider lower back pain that radiates to the lower leg or foot.
What Leads to Osteoarthritis in the Knee?
Age is the primary factor in knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis will eventually affect almost everyone in some way. However, several factors raise the chance of severe arthritis occurring earlier in life.
What Can You Do to Relieve Pain from Bone-on-Bone Knees?
Although there is no cure, the discomfort can be managed. Acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen), or even opioids, may be recommended by your doctor. But for some patients, continued use of these medications might cause substantial negative effects.
Steroid injections are also given to certain people to treat their symptoms. But when used for too long, they develop adverse effects.
Total replacement of the knee joint is a final resort when medicine and physical treatment are insufficient to provide you with enough relief. However, not everyone should do this. Some individuals shouldn’t undergo this procedure due to their age or other health issues.
To treat osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers are exploring novel therapies. They are experimenting with the following techniques, among others.
Treatment of Knee Bone-on-Bone/ Osteoarthritis:
Relieving pain and restoring mobility are the main objectives of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. Typically, the treatment program will combine several the following:
Is Surgery Used to Treat Knee Osteoarthritis?
1- Arthroscopic Lavage and Debridement?
2- Osteotomies around the Knee
Conclusion
According to study, increasing hip and knee muscular strength and doing joint mobilizations can lessen knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Unlike machines, people are not as simple as they are. We are a lot more. Of course, everyone is a little different. As a result, what may be effective for one individual might not be for another. My responsibility as a physical therapist is to determine what suits you the best! My favorite. My day is more varied because of it, and I face numerous interesting problems. Finally, “bone on bone” does not mean the game is over. Game on!
Frequently asked questions ( KNEE BONE ON BONE )
If you have bone on bone, do you need a knee replacement?
The knee becomes increasingly looser and more unstable as knee arthritis worsens. Sometimes, this is a minor issue. In some instances, it is significant enough to make the patient trip and fall. Bone-on-bone arthritis sufferers who are starting to fall should urgently consider surgery
Is Walking Effective for Treating Bone-on-Bone Knee Pain?
Walking has advantages and disadvantages. In general, it’s beneficial to continue doing some form of weight-bearing exercise for your bones, muscles, and cardiovascular system. But occasionally, walking might aggravate an arthritic knee’s pain.
While there are no specific activities that patients with bone-on-bone knees are prohibited from doing, they should pay attention to their bodies and choose activities that are less taxing on the knee joints.
What Could Happen If You Put Off Seeing a Specialist for Bone-on-Bone Knee Pain Relief Too Long?
It is uncommon for a patient to reach the stage of bone-on-bone contact when the tibial plateau or the femoral condyle are beginning to crumble. In most cases, reconstructing a knee won’t be possible after it’s too late.
However, delaying bone-on-bone knee pain treatment for a long time can exacerbate existing medical comorbidities like age or weight. You can also need surgery due to cardiac problems you may have acquired later in life.