Osteoarthritis involves cartilage, bone, the joint lining, meniscus and muscles. Much of the pain comes from the subchondral bone, which has nerves while cartilage does not.
Common symptoms
- Pain on walking or stairs
- Morning stiffness under 30 minutes
- Swelling and crepitus (grinding)
- Reduced range of movement
How it is graded
- Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1–4 on standing X-ray
- MRI shows cartilage loss, bone marrow lesions and meniscus status
Treatment ladder
- Weight management, strengthening and activity changes
- Bracing and offloading
- Biologics (adipocyte therapy / PRP)
- Single Subchond injection for bone marrow lesions
- Osteotomy for malalignment; replacement as last resort
This page is for education only. Suitability for any treatment is decided after a clinical examination and imaging review.