Suffering Early-Onset Arthritis Following a Knee Injury
Knee injuries are some of the most common reasons why people visit the doctor, and a knee dislocation might lead to the development of early-onset arthritis. The knee is a hinge joint that depends on the proper articulation of multiple bones to work properly. These include:
In a knee dislocation, the articulation between the femur and the tibia is disrupted. This disruption is a painful injury that will make it hard for people to move their leg. Even after this injury is corrected, serious complications such as arthritis might develop.
Why Does Arthritis Develop Following a Knee Dislocation?
Arthritis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions in the United States. Knee dislocations have been shown to increase the prevalence of arthritis even years after the injury was treated. For example, one study published in the Journal of Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy showed that close to half of individuals who had suffered a knee dislocation were diagnosed with arthritis 10 years after their injury. Some of the reasons why arthritis might develop after a knee dislocation include:
- The protective cartilage in the knee is degraded during the injury.
- Inflammation following the injury may damage the surface of the bones.
- The muscles around the knee might weaken, adding stress to the ligaments and tendons of the knee.
Arthritis might develop slowly over the years; however, the complications of arthritis can be severe.
What Are the Quality of Life Impacts of Arthritis?
For those who suffer from arthritis, there is a number of quality of life issues that start to develop. These include:
- Mobility Issues: The impaired physical health that comes with arthritis makes it hard for individuals to stick to their daily routine. Mobility problems can make it hard to run errands around town, keep a job, and participate in sports.
- A Decrease in Independence: With these mobility issues comes a decrease in the level of independence. People with arthritis often have to depend on someone else to help them with their activities of daily living. This may include washing dishes, doing laundry, grocery shopping, and even getting the mail from the mailbox.
- Chronic Pain: Individuals with arthritis can also develop chronic pain issues. While there are several treatment options for chronic pain, including narcotic and non-narcotic pain medications, this might be a lifelong complication.
These issues impact not only the individual but also the entire family.
Watch YouTube Video: What Causes Arthritis? This video discusses arthritis and the types of treatments that can help manage the pain.
Rely on an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
When a loved one is struggling with arthritis following a knee dislocation, this can place a lot of stress on the family. Arthritis can prevent someone from going up and down a flight of stairs, and might even make it hard to get out of bed in the morning. It is helpful to speak with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. A compassionate injury lawyer can help families analyze the details, assess their options, and pursue damages that might assist in their recovery.
Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. A knee dislocation can lead to the development of early-onset arthritis, which may cause long-term mobility problems. Should you or someone you care about develop arthritis after a severe knee dislocation, please reach out to me at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 to receive free, friendly legal guidance and advice.
I’m honored to be a lawyer in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum & in the Top One Percent, which is a National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
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