Woman's Doctor: Arthritis is a common knee issue as women age

BALTIMORE —

Knee problems from arthritis can become an issue as people age.

A doctor at Mercy Medical Center said one common knee issue as women age is arthritis behind the knee. And, since most people are more bow-legged, the inside of the kneecap can experience more stress, leading to more pain.

Dr. Joseph Ciotola, an orthopedic surgeon at Mercy Medical Center, said patella femoral arthritis is when patients feel pain when they are sitting with their knee bent for too long — whether at a desk or in traffic. When the patient stands up, it hurts even more.

If it's arthritis on the inside of the knee, Ciotola said that even when sleeping, patients will have to put a pillow between their legs to ease the discomfort.

Patients will actually have swelling on the bone there, and it hurts to