“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis that affects the joints, particularly weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees, as well as the hands, spine, and feet. It is a degenerative joint disease that involves the breakdown and loss of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the joints and allows them to move smoothly.
The exact cause of osteoarthritis is not known, but it is thought to be a result of a combination of factors including aging, joint injury, and repetitive stress on the joints. Other factors that may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis include obesity, genetics, and bone or joint deformities.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis may include:
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis may involve a physical exam, imaging tests such as X-rays or MRI scans, and blood tests to rule out other causes of joint pain.
Treatment of osteoarthritis may involve a combination of medications to manage pain and inflammation, physical therapy to improve joint function and range of motion, weight loss to reduce stress on the affected joints, and assistive devices such as braces or crutches to support the affected joint. In some cases, surgery such as joint replacement may be recommended for severe cases of osteoarthritis.
Prevention of osteoarthritis may involve maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding joint injuries and repetitive stress on the joints, and participating in regular exercise to improve joint function and flexibility.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints gradually deteriorates. Cartilage is a firm, slippery tissue that enables nearly frictionless joint motion.
Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, bone will rub on bone.
Osteoarthritis has often been referred to as a wear and tear disease. But besides the breakdown of cartilage, osteoarthritis affects the entire joint. It causes changes in the bone and deterioration of the connective tissues that hold the joint together and attach muscle to bone. It also causes inflammation of the joint lining.
Osteoarthritis can't be reversed, but treatments can reduce pain and help you move better.
Medications that can help relieve osteoarthritis symptoms, primarily pain, include:
If conservative treatments don't help, you might want to consider procedures such as: