Information On Osteoarthritis

What Is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that occurs when cartilage begins to break down and wear away in the joints. Because bones located in the joint begin to rub together when the cartilage breaks down, people experience pain, swelling and even bone loss in the joint area.

Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that mostly affects the weight-bearing joints, such as feet, knees, hips and hands. It usually occurs after age 40 and is increasingly common in women after age 45. According to the Arthritis Foundation, women are more susceptible to osteoarthritis because they have broader hips, which can cause additional strain on the knees over a period of time.

What Causes Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is caused when the connective tissue called cartilage begins to break down. Because cartilage is essentially a soft, cushion-like tissue, it absorbs shock and reduces friction between the bones. However, when the cartilage begins to deteriorate, it can no longer prevent the bones located in a joint from rubbing against each other. Without the protective cushioning, the bones cannot move freely because of additional pressure on the joint. In addition, the lack of cartilage limits range of motion and causes pain and swelling in joints.

Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, stiffness and swelling in or around joints. Some people develop nodules, or bumps, in fingers or other joints in the hand. However, many people with osteoarthritis do not experience pain or other symptoms associated with this disease. In fact, only 1 out of 3 people diagnosed with osteoarthritis report pain and symptoms before the actual diagnosis.

Contact your doctor if you experience more than two weeks of the following symptoms:

• Limited range of motion
• Cracking sound in joints
• Enlargement of one or more joints
• Stiffness after periods of immobility
• Pain at night
• Swelling or deformity of joint

Diagnosis Of Osteoarthritis?

The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is usually made by a physical examination, x-ray or joint aspiration procedure. It is important to find out whether or not you have osteoarthritis, and, if diagnosed, what type of treatment is best for you. If swelling or stiffness occurs in your joints for more than two weeks, you should contact your doctor for a physical examination of affected joints. Early diagnosis of osteoarthritis can help decrease or prevent joint damage that occurs within the first few years of the disease.

If your doctor suspects that you may have joint damage, he or she may perform additional tests to assess the severity. X-rays of the affected joints show the cartilage loss, bone damage and bone spurs. Additionally, your doctor may conduct a joint aspiration procedure, which involves removing synovial fluid from the affected joints with a needle. This test also helps your doctor determine whether or not you have an infection in the affected joint area.

Treatment Of Osteoarthritis

Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis, early diagnosis and self-management can significantly reduce pain and symptoms. Once you are diagnosed with osteoarthritis, your doctor may recommend treatment with medication, which will provide osteoarthritis pain relief. Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes or activities to help manage your symptoms. Click on the following topics below to learn more about osteoarthritis treatment options.

• Medication
• Alternative Therapies
• Surgery

Osteoarthritis Risk factors

Some factors that may increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis include:

• Age: Although symptoms of osteoarthritis can begin in young adults, being over the age of 45 puts you at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis.
• Gender: According to the Arthritis Foundation, women are more susceptible to osteoarthritis because they have broader hips, which can cause additional strain on the knees over a period of time.
• Obesity: Because osteoarthritis mostly affects the weight-bearing joints, being overweight puts even more pressure on joints. When you carry extra weight, the cartilage that cushions your joints breaks down faster than usual.
• Prior Injuries: Serious injuries to joints can lead to osteoarthritis. Repeated injury to the same joint can cause damage to the joint, tendons and ligaments, causing cartilage to break down more quickly.
• Overuse: Repetitious movement caused by a profession requiring constant use of a specific joint, such as carpentry, or by an athletic sport, such as baseball, can make cartilage wear away much faster than moderate use of the joints.
• Genetics & Family History: Certain people may have a defect in the gene responsible for the body's production of collagen, the protein substance that makes up cartilage. Others carry slight genetic defects in the way bones and joints fit together, which can cause cartilage to break down at a faster rate. However, if you have a family history of osteoarthritis, it does not mean that you necessarily will develop the disease. There are other risk factors in addition to genetics that must be involved.