Question
Hi Karen,

I was wondering if osteoarthritis can have a sudden onset?  I was out running last spring, stepped down and got a sharp pain in my knee.  I have since struggled with it.  I am currently being followed by an orthopedic surgeon who looked at my x-ray and said that my x-ray looked more like that of a 38 year old instead of a 28 year old and that there was some hardening on the bone below the meniscus.  He ordered and MRI and said that I may have a meniscus tear (tear of the cartiladge), small degenerative tears or arthritis.  My pain is inconsistent but I usually experience some pain every day.  Some days the pain is sharp if I have been active.  I was wondering if you could tell me if osteoarthritis usually occurs in a sudden onset  or if it is more of a gradual thing.  Also, are sharp pains usually associated with it?  My knee never aches, it only hurts during weight bearing activities.  Any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks.  

Answer
Dear Danielle, Osteoarthritis is caused by abusing the joints and cartiledge do to the type of work you do, the type of exercise done, the type of sports played and finally age...  In your case it is not age, but based on the MRI, you have abused the joint in at least one knee for certain....

Usually symptoms of osteoarthritis come on gradually...  It sounds like you have damaged the cartiledge by tearing it.. If it was a wearing type damage, it would have come on gradually..
However, I do not know your personal exercise habits, your history of sports or cheerleading or your occupation, in which all of these could cause early onset of osteoarthritis...

As for the pain of oseoatrithis it can be sharp, constant, intermittent, and weight bearing during simple walking or even exercise WILL cause more pain....

It is good that you have an Orthopedic treating you since he will be able to tell you the cause, give you the treatment you need and even order physical therapy if you need it and tell you what you can and can not do....  For your own good, since you are so your, I "strongly" suggest tht you follow is orders to the letter, even if tht means giving up running, jogging, and other excerise involving the knee....

Thank you,   karen