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Spring has finally arrived in Snellville. The sun is shining longer, temperatures are rising, and the community is heading outside—strolling through Briscoe Park, getting gardens ready, or hitting the local trails for fresh air and exercise. After months of being indoors, it’s the season where we all want to move more and feel better.
But if you’re living with knee osteoarthritis, this seasonal shift may come with an unexpected—and frustrating—twist: your knee pain actually gets worse.
Instead of relief, many patients find that as activity levels increase, so does discomfort. The stiffness and aches you managed during the winter months suddenly become sharper, more persistent, and harder to ignore. Climbing stairs, bending to plant flowers, or going on a walk around the neighborhood might leave you sore, swollen, or unsteady by evening.
You're not imagining it. This type of seasonal flare-up is common, and there’s a reason why it tends to strike during the early days of spring.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, and it occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions your joints gradually wears down over time. This cartilage acts as a smooth, shock-absorbing surface that helps your joints move easily and without pain. When it breaks down, bones can begin to rub against each other, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility.
While OA can affect any joint, it’s especially common in the knees. That’s because your knees are major weight-bearing joints, absorbing impact every time you walk, squat, climb stairs, or even stand. Over the years, this constant use—combined with aging and other risk factors—can take a serious toll.
When knee osteoarthritis develops, symptoms often progress slowly but noticeably, including:
Some days might be better than others, but over time, flare-ups become more frequent—especially after increased activity or changes in weather.
Several factors can increase your risk for developing knee OA:
If you live with knee osteoarthritis, you may have noticed a familiar pattern: just when the weather starts to warm up and you’re ready to get moving again, your knees decide otherwise. The pain increases, swelling returns, and your joint feels stiffer than it did during the colder months. So, what gives?
During the colder months, blood circulation tends to decrease, and muscles naturally tighten. This reduced flow and stiffness can make joints feel more rigid and painful—especially in the knees, which are highly sensitive to temperature changes. Even though winter may have seemed “inactive,” your joints have likely been less mobile, increasing stiffness.
For many, winter means less movement. Shorter days, cooler weather, and holiday routines often lead to more time indoors and less physical activity. Unfortunately, this inactivity can cause the muscles that support your knees—especially the quads and hamstrings—to weaken. When spring arrives and you ramp up your activity again, your knees may not be ready to handle the sudden demand.
Whether it's walking through Briscoe Park, tackling yard work, or recommitting to a spring workout routine, your activity level likely spikes in March and April. While movement is generally good for joints, a rapid increase in intensity or duration can aggravate osteoarthritic knees that have been less active all winter. This leads to inflammation, swelling, and pain—classic signs of an OA flare-up.
Spring in Georgia often brings rapid shifts in weather, including changes in barometric pressure. These fluctuations can cause the tissues in your joints to expand slightly, which increases pressure inside the knee. For someone with OA, this can translate to increased pain and sensitivity.
Here in Snellville, it’s common to see people diving into spring full force—gardening, walking trails, participating in local fitness events, or enjoying outdoor time with family. While all these activities are great for overall wellness, they can unintentionally trigger flare-ups in knees affected by osteoarthritis, especially if done without proper warm-up or joint support.
If you're living with chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis, you’re likely asking a familiar question: "Is there relief without going under the knife?" The answer is yes—and you're not alone in wanting alternatives. Many patients prefer to avoid surgery due to the risks, extended downtime, or past experiences with procedures that didn’t provide lasting results.
At Medici Orthopaedics & Spine in Snellville, we specialize in a conservative-first approach—meaning we prioritize non-surgical, minimally invasive solutions to relieve pain and restore movement. Our goal is to help you stay active and independent with personalized care that works with your body, not against it.
We provide non-opioid anti-inflammatory medications that can significantly reduce pain and stiffness without the risks of dependency. Our approach is carefully tailored to your symptoms and overall health profile.
Our skilled therapists help you strengthen the muscles around your knee, improve joint mobility, and correct movement patterns that place extra stress on your joints. Myofascial release techniques relieve deep-tissue tension and promote better circulation and function.
These injections act as a lubricant, restoring the natural cushioning inside your knee joint. Ideal for moderate OA, this treatment helps reduce friction, improve movement, and delay progression of the disease.
During a flare-up, steroid injections can quickly reduce inflammation and ease pain, providing several weeks—or even months—of relief. We use precise image-guided techniques to target the affected area for maximum effectiveness.
These cutting-edge treatments use your body’s natural healing components to repair damaged cartilage and reduce joint inflammation. Whether it's platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or stem cell therapy, regenerative medicine can help slow OA progression and promote long-term healing.
A properly fitted knee brace can improve alignment and help offload pressure from the affected joint, especially during walking or exercise. We also recommend assistive devices like walking poles if needed during flare-ups.
Managing knee osteoarthritis doesn’t stop when the pain fades—it’s an ongoing process that benefits greatly from simple, daily habits. With a few thoughtful adjustments to your routine, you can reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups, especially during the spring when activity levels naturally increase.
After a sedentary winter, it’s tempting to jump straight into gardening, hiking, or outdoor workouts. But doing too much too soon can overload your knees. Ease into activity, starting with short walks or low-impact exercise and building up gradually to avoid shocking the joint.
Apply gentle heat (like a warm towel or heating pad) before activity to loosen stiff joints and improve circulation. After activity, especially if you notice swelling or discomfort, use ice packs to reduce inflammation and soothe the area.
Shoes matter more than you think. Choose footwear with strong arch support, cushioning, and a non-slip sole to protect your knees with every step. Avoid high heels or unsupportive flats, and be cautious on uneven terrain like trails or lawns.
Extra weight adds significant pressure to the knees—every pound puts about 4 additional pounds of force on your joints when walking. Losing even a small amount of weight can greatly reduce pain and slow the progression of osteoarthritis.
Daily stretching helps maintain flexibility, while strengthening exercises build up the muscles that stabilize your knee joint. Focus on your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. Low-impact routines like yoga, water aerobics, or resistance band workouts can be done from the comfort of home.
As spring settles in and the urge to get outdoors grows stronger, many in Snellville are ready to walk more, garden, and enjoy a more active lifestyle. But for those living with knee osteoarthritis, warmer weather can bring more than sunshine—it can bring flare-ups that make even simple movements painful.
If you're noticing stiffness, swelling, or joint pain when your activity level increases, don’t ignore it. Early intervention is key to managing osteoarthritis, avoiding long-term damage, and staying mobile through every season.
You don’t have to live with knee pain, and you don’t have to rush into surgery. The best treatment for knee osteoarthritis without surgery is available right here in Snellville at Medici Orthopaedics & Spine. Our conservative-first, minimally invasive approach is designed to relieve pain, restore function, and help you return to doing what you love—safely and comfortably.
📞 Contact Medici Orthopaedics & Spine Today:
🌐 Visit us at medicimedicalarts.com
📱 Call Us: +1-844-328-4624
📍 Snellville Clinic Address:
2220 Wisteria Drive, Unit 101
Snellville, GA 30078
(470) 645-9297
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