I have been told I have arthritis of the knee. What is this?
There are three basic types of arthritis that can affect the knee. The most common is osteoarthritis. This is a slow degenerative disease in which the joint cartilage, or cushion, gradually wears away. It most often affects middle-aged and older people. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that can destroy joint cartilage. It can occur at any age and generally affects both knees. Lastly, post-traumatic arthritis can develop after an injury to the knee. It is similar to osteoarthritis and may develop years after a fracture, ligament injury or meniscus tear.