10 Symptoms of Arthritis

6. Symptoms of Arthritis of the Knee

Pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee may indicate arthritis. Although the knee is the largest and strongest joint in the body, it is not uncommon for people to develop symptoms of either OA, RA, or post-traumatic arthritis.

• Signs of OA include the wearing down of the cartilage in the knee joint, allowing bones to rub against each other and create bone spurs. OA develops slowly, and it gets worse over time.
• With RA, the individual's immune system attacks and damages normal tissues, both cartilage and bone. Swelling in the layer of connective tissue that lines the joints —the synovial membrane — leads to pain and stiffness.
• An injury to the knee leads to post-traumatic arthritis. Tears and ligament injuries cause more wear on the knee joint. Over time, arthritis develops.