Knee pain and joint problems are becoming more common, particularly among women, and often develop quietly without obvious symptoms. Many overlook early signs, which can lead to chronic issues over time.
Dr Dushyant Chouhan, orthopaedic and sports injury surgeon at AIIMS Raipur, shares in his September 2 Instagram post the “1 silent problem” that can damage women’s knees and shares tips on how to protect them before it’s too late.
Could your knees be signalling an early problem
“She was just 38 years old… no accident. No big injury. Yet every morning, when she got up from bed, her knees felt stiff. Climbing stairs became painful… even sitting cross-legged felt impossible,” explained Dr Dushyant.
He added, “Her family said, ‘It’s just weakness.’ Some told her, ‘It’s normal after kids.’ Others said, ‘Maybe low calcium.’ But the truth was different. Her knee cartilage was slowly wearing out… a silent problem that starts in women much earlier than they expect.”
Early signs that women should not ignore
“The shocking part?” he continued. “If ignored, this simple stiffness can lead to severe arthritis… and sometimes even the need for knee replacement.”
Early signs most women ignore, according to Dr Chouchan:
- Morning stiffness in the knees
- Pain while climbing stairs
- Difficulty sitting on the floor
- Grinding or cracking sound in the knees
“Don’t wait until surgery becomes the only option,” Dr Chouchan warned, urging women to pay attention to early symptoms and take preventive steps for joint health.