Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis (OA) also called degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease - most common joint disorder that occurs when joint cartilage wears down. Symptoms of Osteoarthritis worsen over time and no cure exists. Best approach is to adopt lifestyle to decrease further damage.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

• Limited range of joint movement
• Aching joint pain that gets worse after physical activity
• Pain present even at rest
• Clicking or grinding of the joint during motion
• Increased pain in humid weather
• Joint swelling
• Muscle weakness around arthritic jointss

Osteoarthritis Treatment

Treatement goals:

• Therapy to increase joint strength
• Hot and cold treatements
• Weight loss to put less weight on the joints
• Reducing stress and getting enough rest
• Be protective of the joints
• Eating healthy, nutritious diet
• Decrease inflammation with anti-inflammatory foods and medication
• Therapy to learn correct ways to use the joints to decrease further inflammation
• Hormone injections to help decrease inflammation
• Surgery if non-invasive treatements do not help

Causes of Osteoarthritis

When cushioning (cartilage) between the bones wears away and disappears between the joints, bones begin to rub on other bones. Bony spurs or growths usually form around the joint and ligaments and muscles around the joint loosen and become weaker. There is no single cause of Osteoarthritis, but it generally occurs with age and has a number of common causes

• Family history of Osteoarthritis
• Overweight people are at an increased risk
• Fractures or other joint injuries can lead to osteoarthritis
• Repetitive overuse
• Bleeding disorders like hemophilia that cause joint bleeding
• Disorders such as avascular necrosis, blocking joint blood supply
• Other types of arthritis: chronic gout, pseudogout, or rheumatoid arthritis

Testing and Diagnosing Osteoarthritis

• Physical exam checking swelling, tenderness, pain points and range of joint movement
• X-ray to the wear of the bones
• MRI
• CT Scan