Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a chronic disease that causes deterioration of the joint cartilage and formation of reactive new bone at the margins and subchondral areas of the joints. This degeneration results from a breakdown of chondrocytes, most commonly in the distal interphalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, but also in the hip and knee joints.
Osteoarthritis gradually worsens with time, and no cure exists. But osteoarthritis treatments can relieve pain and help you remain active. Taking steps to actively manage your osteoarthritis may help you gain control over your osteoarthritis pain.
Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage in your joints. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage absorbs the shock of movement. When you lose cartilage, your bones rub together. Over time, this rubbing can permanently damage the joint. Factors that may cause osteoarthritis include
* Being overweight
* Getting older
* Injuring a joint
How common is osteoarthritis?
There are many kinds of arthritis. The most common kind is called osteoarthritis
It affects 3,000,000 (1 in 10) Canadians.
It affects men and women in equal numbers.
Causes Of Osteoarthritis
Joint wear and Tear: The aging process clearly can contribute to the breakdown in the joints and cause osteoarthritis, but not all elderly people develop osteoarthritis.
Inactivity: Not surprisingly, physical inactivity can be as harmful to the joints as overuse. A lack of exercise or varied movement can weaken the muscles that support the joints and decrease joint flexibility. Eventually, an underused joint may become stiff, painful, dysfunctional, and prone to injury and osteoarthritis.
What are symptoms of osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints. Unlike many other forms of arthritis that are systemic illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus, osteoarthritis does not affect other organs of the body. The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain in the affected joint(s) after repetitive use. Joint pain is usually worse later in the day. There can be swelling, warmth, and creaking of the affected joints. Pain and stiffness of the joints can also occur after long periods of inactivity, for example, sitting in a theater.
How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?
There is no blood test for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Blood tests are performed to exclude diseases that can cause secondary osteoarthritis, as well as to exclude other arthritis conditions that can mimic osteoarthritis.
Arthrocentesis is often performed in the doctor’s office. During arthrocentesis, a sterile needle is used to remove joint fluid for analysis. Joint fluid analysis is useful in excluding gout, infection, and other causes of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis Treatment
While you can’t reverse the effects of osteoarthritis, early treatment may help you avoid pain and disability and slow progression of the disease. Surgery may help if your condition is already severe.
If you have early stages of osteoarthritis of the hip, the first treatments may include:
Resting your hip from overuse
Following a physical therapy program of gentle, regular exercise like swimming, water aerobics or cycling to keep your joint functioning and improve its strength and range of motion
Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is a ‘wear and tear’ disease of the joints typically seen in the older adult over 60 years of age. Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, affects the elderly in various parts of the body such as the knees, hips, hands and even the spine.
Patients are often unaware that they have osteoarthritis, since the symptoms develop gradually, only to be discovered when joints swell or there is discomfort and pain after a period of inactivity.
