Where in Dubai
Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees patients with knee arthritis at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. Bring any knee X-rays you already have and a list of the medicines you take. Most of the plan is exercise you can do near home, so it helps to think about a gym, pool or physiotherapy centre close to where you live or work in Dubai.
What is knee arthritis (osteoarthritis)?
Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis, and the knee is one of the joints it affects most. The smooth cartilage that covers the ends of the thigh bone, shin bone and kneecap slowly thins and roughens. The bone underneath reacts, small bony spurs can grow, and the joint becomes painful and stiff. People often call it wear and tear. It is more likely with age, after an old knee injury, with extra body weight, and in women. It cannot be cured, but it does not always get worse, and most people are helped by exercise, weight loss and pain relief. Surgery is for knees that stay bad despite these.
Common signs
- Knee pain that is worse when you walk, climb stairs or stand up from a chair, and eases with rest.
- Stiffness after sitting, or first thing in the morning, that loosens within half an hour.
- A grating or crackling feeling when the knee bends.
- Swelling that comes and goes, or a knee that looks bigger or bonier than the other.
- Difficulty kneeling, squatting or sitting on the floor for prayer.
- A knee that has slowly become bowed, knock-kneed or will not straighten fully.
How Dr. Subhash approaches it
Dr. Subhash trained in hip and knee replacement on a fellowship at Sunshine Hospitals in Secunderabad, India, in 2016, and his DNB in orthopaedics was at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad. Joint replacement is one of his stated main interests. Arthritis is usually treated in steps: exercise, weight and pain relief first, then injections where they help, and an operation only when the knee still limits your life. If surgery is right, he explains whether a partial or a total knee replacement suits your knee, and why.
What to expect
Consultation
He asks how the pain affects walking, sleep, work and prayer, and examines the knee, its alignment and how far it bends.
X-rays
Standing X-rays show how much joint space is left and which part of the knee is worn. An MRI is not usually needed for arthritis.
A plan without surgery
Most people start with a programme of strengthening exercises, weight loss if needed, pain relief and, for some, a knee brace or walking stick.
Injections
A steroid injection can calm a flare for a few weeks, often to help you do the exercises. It is a short-term aid, not a cure.
Talking about surgery
If the knee still limits your life, he discusses a knee replacement: partial when only one side is worn, total when the whole joint is.
Follow-up
He reviews you over time, because arthritis changes slowly and the right treatment can change with it.
Getting better
Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.
- Exercise is the main treatment at every stage. Stronger thigh and hip muscles take load off the knee.
- Losing weight, even a little, often reduces pain and makes walking easier.
- Symptoms often come and go in flares. A flare usually settles over days to weeks.
- Low-impact activity such as walking, swimming or a static bike is usually easier on the knee than running.
- After a knee replacement, most daily activities return over about three months.
Risks to know about
- Anti-inflammatory tablets can upset the stomach, kidneys or heart in some people; ask before taking them long term.
- Repeated steroid injections into the same knee are limited, because their benefit is short.
- Keyhole washout of an arthritic knee is not advised by the UK guideline body NICE, because it does not help.
When to book a visit
Book a visit if knee pain has lasted more than a few weeks, keeps you awake, or is stopping you walking or praying comfortably. Seek help the same day if the knee is suddenly hot, red and swollen, or if you have a fever with knee pain.
Where to book
Dr. Subhash sees patients at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, in north-east Dubai. The clinic is at Shop No. 4, next to the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Grand Infinity Medical Center
Shop No. 4, next to Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DirectionsCall +971 58 599 7460WhatsApp
Blog posts on this
Questions patients ask
Is it too hot in Dubai to exercise an arthritic knee?
The summer heat makes outdoor walking hard for many people. Indoor options work just as well for the knee: a mall walk in the early morning, a static bike, or a pool. The exercises themselves matter more than where you do them.
Does knee arthritis always end in a knee replacement?
No. Many people manage well for years with exercise, weight control and pain relief. A replacement is considered only when pain and stiffness keep limiting your life after these have been tried.
Should I rest an arthritic knee?
Rest during a flare is fine, but long rest makes the muscles weaker and the knee stiffer. Regular, gentle exercise is one of the most useful treatments for knee arthritis.
Will a keyhole operation clean out my arthritis?
For arthritis alone, a keyhole washout does not help and is not advised by NICE. Arthroscopy may still be used for a separate problem, such as a torn meniscus that locks the knee.
Do I need an MRI for knee arthritis?
Usually not. Your history, an examination and standing X-rays are normally enough. An MRI is used when something else, such as a ligament or meniscus injury, is suspected.
Book an appointment
His nurse answers the phone and WhatsApp.