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Osteoarthritis
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative
arthritis, is a disease that causes the breakdown of the cartilage in
joints. Normally, cartilage acts as a smooth, cushioning material
inside joints. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes rough and
flaky, and small pieces break off. The bone surface of the joint also
becomes rough and irregular. As a result, movement of the joint
becomes painful and difficult.
Osteoarthritis occurs most often in
weight-bearing joints such as the neck, lower back, knees, and hips.
It also often affects the fingers.
Osteoarthritis is three times more common in
women than in men. It begins to appear in middle age. By age 60, most
people have some osteoarthritis, although it may be too mild to cause
symptoms.
How does it occur?
Osteoarthritis is caused by excessive wear on
joints. Obesity, bad posture, old injuries, and overuse can all cause
extra wear on joints. Heredity also appears to play a role.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- mild to severe pain in a joint, especially
after overuse or long periods of inactivity, such as sitting for a
long time
- creaking or grating sound in the joint
- swelling, stiffness, limited movement of
the joint, especially in the mornings
- weakness in muscles around the sore joint
from lack of use
- deformity of the joint.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will review your medical history
and examine you. Your doctor may also order blood tests and x-rays. A
sample of fluid in the joint may be taken with a needle to confirm the
diagnosis.
How is it treated?
The aim of treatment is to keep the joint
working by reducing strain on the joint and by relieving pain,
stiffness, and swelling.
Generally, acetaminophen is the best
medication for pain relief in osteoarthritis. If it is not effective,
low doses of aspirin can be used by those who can take aspirin. If
these medications do not work, see your doctor for more guidance and
evaluation.
Putting an ice pack on your arthritic joint
once or twice a day can help relieve pain. Doctors also sometimes
inject steroids into the painful joint.
If you are overweight, your doctor may
recommend that you lose weight by eating fewer calories, by increasing
your physical activity, or both.
Physical and occupational therapy can help you
have normal movement again. Regular gentle aerobic exercise is also
very important for controlling osteoarthritis.
Sometimes severely damaged hips and knees are
surgically replaced.
How long will the effects last?
Unfortunately, osteoarthritis is a lifetime
disease that can worsen over time. Avoiding repeated injury to your
joints can help, but damaged cartilage cannot repair itself.
How can I take care of myself?
Although no one yet knows how to prevent
osteoarthritis, you can help prevent symptoms by following these
guidelines:
- Keep your joints in good working order.
Stay fit. Do any exercises recommended by your doctor or physical
therapist for posture, muscle strength, and joint mobility. Daily
moderate exercise is much better for your joints than occasional
strenuous exercise. Walk a little each day if you can. Be sure to
wear comfortable, well-cushioned walking shoes. Otherwise, you can
exercise while sitting down or go swimming. The water in a warm
swimming pool can help support your weight while you exercise, and
the warmth helps improve joint movement.
- Protect your joints by doing warm-up
exercises before strenuous activity.
- Use a knee pad to protect your knees when
you are kneeling.
- Take the medication your doctor recommends
for controlling your osteoarthritis.
- Keep your body healthy by eating a healthy,
varied, low- fat diet.
- Follow your doctor's recommendations for
weight control.
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