Are you on your knees living with someone with knee osteoarthritis?

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) affects over 1 in 5 people in England¹, a condition which can cause pain and discomfort that impacts people’s mobility and affects their ability to carry out everyday tasks or normal routines like exercise, household chores or even work.  

This is a long-term condition where shock-absorbing cartilage is worn away causing bones to rub together and the joint to become stiff, swollen and painful. The knee joint worsens over time resulting in synovial pain and disability. Many people live with knee OA for many years before getting an official diagnosis from a healthcare professional, putting off seeking advice for the fear of options like total knee replacement. As a result, many people suffer in silence or “struggle on” but rely on their family and friends for help.  

To coincide with Carers Week 9-15^th June 2025 (an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make), we’re keen to share some ‘top tips’ and pragmatic advice with Arthrosamid’s wider patient community. Here, we sensitively explore some helpful approaches to caring for someone with knee osteoarthritis and guiding them to treatment options which could help them to  “move fully, live freely”.

 1. Be patient (with yourself and the “patient”)  

It’s natural for people to want to maintain their independence, but knee OA can severely impact mobility, making movements more slow and painful. So, you may find you need to help with “everyday” tasks like walking the dog, driving, cleaning the house, shopping etc. This can be tricky to manage, as your loved one might be finding it difficult to cope with their own limitations caused by the condition and feel uneasy about accepting help. Communication is key here, so make sure you ask someone’s opinion to find out exactly what they might need help with and how they feel about the situation. The person you’re caring for should feel supported, but consider that they may also be worried that they are a burden and feel that their self-confidence is “knocked”, so may need additional reassurance. Consistent pain that is difficult to manage on a daily basis can have a psychological impact and effect mood and behaviour – and, let’s face it, it can be tricky to deal with someone who is irritable or low, especially if it’s out of character!  As the saying goes, you need to put on your own oxygen mask first, so do take time out for yourself   and make sure you don’t become isolated.   

2. Making informed choices  

The first step to helping someone with knee problems is to get advice from a healthcare professional – so either booking an appointment with the GP or seeing a specialist such as a physiotherapist, sports and exercise medicine consultant or a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. An accurate diagnosis will then enable more effective treatment options, whether that’s pain management, lifestyle adaptations, a rehabilitation programme, or an injection.  

You can help by researching the most appropriate and convenient place to go for advice that works for you in your area.  It can be daunting starting on a treatment pathway but do be reassured that there are now alternatives to surgery. Arthrosamid® is a simple, one-step procedure performed as an outpatient treatment under local anaesthetic by a qualified physician². Supported by more than two decades of research³, this hydrogel injection is proven safe and effective^4,5 offering long lasting pain relief for knee OA^6,7. To find you nearest Clinic offering Athrosamid®, visit https://arthrosamid.com/find-a-clinic 

3. Seek support  

Living with chronic pain can have an impact on both the ‘patient’ and those helping to care for them – with loved ones often left “picking up the pieces” – such as taking on all driving, household chores, emotional support and dealing with frustrations around life limitations.  There may also be financial implications of living with knee OA – and you might need to help someone to seek advice on benefits. But, you don’t need to do this alone! There are lots of organisations that can help to give you accurate, balanced and independent advice on everything from treatment options, to emotional support and advising on applying on any benefits they may be entitled to. As a starting point, Versus Arthritis has a comprehensive free online resource called Self Help and Daily Living. Caring for a Person With Arthritis.  If you want to reach out for support from a community of people in a similar situation, Carers UK run support groups (online & in person) across the UK.  Knowing that others are going through a similar situation can have a positive impact for you and your loved ones – read testimonials here of people who have shared their journeys of overcoming knee pain and enhancing their quality of life on the “road to recovery”.  

4. Encourage movement  

If you are in pain, it can seem counterintuitive to exercise, but actually weight bearing movements are important for maintaining a normal balance of the knee’s internal processes. So, if you’re not exercising, it can have a negative impact on the health of your knee. However, with knee OA it might be better to focus on the lower impact sports such as swimming, cycling, walking or equipment in the gym like the cross trainer or static bike, rather than the higher impacts ones such as long-distance running, tennis, football or rugby. If you’re caring for a relative or a friend with knee OA, then do consider that it may be difficult for them to accept that they’re not as active as they once were or are now unable to take part in sports or activities that may also have formed a big part of their social life. Building up slowly after an injury, flare up or a treatment like an injection or surgery is crucial. Following a rehab programme which can be adapted to each person’s fitness levels is a good place to start – try this new online free patient rehabilitation video tutorial programme. Also, encouraging a knee OA patient to take some exercise like a gentle walk together can be a good distraction from the pain, positive for mental health and provide an opportunity for you to talk.  

5. Don’t forget to rest 

Sleep can be badly affected by knee osteoarthritis, with many people suffering from pain and discomfort at night. This can cause a “pain, sleep, anxiety” cycle – with disrupted sleep adversely affecting someone’s mood, concentration and energy levels the next day. Regular painkillers (e.g. paracetamol and ibuprofen) can help to ease discomfort but must only be taken within daily limits. As a carer, this disrupted sleep will inevitably impact your own sleep quantity and quality.  So, both carer and patient might find they get tired more easily.  

Strategies to deal with this include establishing a good bedtime routine (like going to bed at the same time each night, avoiding eating 2 hours before and limit “blue light” screen time), spreading activities throughout the day, resting during a flare up, taking regular, moderate exercise and following a healthy, balanced and hydrating diet.  

^References:  

^{1.Versus Arthritis birmingham-oa-1.pdf} 

^{2.Arthrosamid®, Instructions For Use. Release Date March 2022. 10082-003.} 

^{3.Data on file}  

^{4.Bliddal, H., et al. (2024). Effectiveness and safety of polyacrylamide hydrogel injection for knee osteoarthritis: results from a 12-month follow up of an open-label study. J Orthop Surg Res. Vol 19: 274.} 

^{5.Bliddal, H., et al. (2024). Polyacrylamide gel versus hyaluronic acid for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled study. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Vol 42(9):1729-1735.} 

^{6.Bliddal, H., et al. (2024)  3 year follow-up from a randomized controlled trial of intra-articular polyacrylamide hydrogel injection in subjects with knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. Vol 32 (6): 770-771.} 

^{7.Bliddal, H., et al. (2025) A Prospective Study of Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis: Results From 5 Years After Treatment. Presented at WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2025.} 

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