Many people in Australia suffer from long-term knee pain. One of the main reasons for this pain is a condition called osteoarthritis. This health problem affects more than two million Australians and is one of the top causes of pain and disability as people get older.
You may think you need an x-ray to know if you have osteoarthritis. But that’s not true. Doctors can often tell if someone has this condition just by talking to them and looking at their symptoms and medical history.
For example, if you’re over 45, have pain when walking or climbing stairs, and your knee doesn’t feel stiff for more than 30 minutes in the morning, that could be enough for a diagnosis.
Still, about half of the people who go to their doctor for knee pain are sent for scans like x-rays. These tests cost the Australian healthcare system over $100 million every year. In many cases, they are not needed.
So, what exactly is osteoarthritis? It’s a condition that happens when your joints try to fix themselves after getting worn out, injured, or overused. It doesn’t only affect the bones. It also harms the cartilage, muscles, and ligaments around the knee.
Older people, those who have had knee injuries, and people who are overweight are more likely to get it. The most common symptoms are pain and trouble moving around during daily activities.
While some people eventually need surgery like a knee replacement, it should only be considered when the pain is very severe. Surgery can have serious side effects like blood clots or infections. It also doesn’t always help people feel completely better.
The good news is that there are many ways to manage knee osteoarthritis without surgery. These include staying active, learning how to live with the condition, losing weight if needed, and taking medicine like paracetamol or anti-inflammatory drugs. Many people can feel better with these simple steps.
There is a common belief that osteoarthritis is just “wear and tear,” but that’s not fully true. An x-ray does not always match how much pain a person feels. Some people have bad pain even if their x-ray looks okay. Others feel fine even if their x-ray shows serious changes in the joint.
That’s why doctors are now encouraged to focus more on a person’s symptoms than on x-ray results. But even though this is the advice, many doctors still use x-rays. Some patients even expect to see one, thinking it’s the best way to understand their condition.
A recent study looked at this issue. Researchers showed videos to 617 people in Australia. Each video showed a doctor explaining a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis in a different way. One group didn’t see any x-ray. Another group was told about the x-ray, but didn’t see the image. The third group was shown the x-ray image.
After watching the videos, people filled out a survey. Those who saw the x-ray were more likely to think they needed surgery. They also felt more afraid to move their knee, worried that exercise would make things worse, and were more anxious about their condition. Even though seeing the x-ray made some people feel more satisfied, it also increased their fears.
This shows that unnecessary x-rays might do more harm than good. They can lead people to think their knee is badly damaged and make them want surgery too soon.
They may also become more fearful of movement, which can make the problem worse. Avoiding x-rays when they are not needed can help people feel less worried, avoid risks from surgery, and save money. It also reduces radiation exposure.
If you have knee osteoarthritis, remember that x-rays are not always needed. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and the best way to manage them. There are many simple and helpful treatments that don’t involve surgery.
If you care about pain, please read studies about how to manage your back pain, and Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to live pain-free with arthritis, and results showing common native American plant may help reduce diarrhea and pain.
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