Osteoarthritis
On this page, you will find everything you are looking for regarding osteoarthritis.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that occurs due to the weakening or breakdown of the tissues lining the bones within the joints, over time. These changes usually develop slowly, and escalate gradually, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling.
What Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
- The symptoms of osteoarthritis often begin slowly, usually starting in one joint or a few joints. The common symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- Joint pain.
- Joint stiffness.
Swelling in and around the joint.
What Are the Causes of Osteoarthritis?
- Certain factors may increase your likelihood of developing the disease, including:
- Advancingage..
- Being overweight or obese.
- A history of injury or surgery to the joint.
- Overuse from repetitive movements of the joint.
Family history of osteoarthritis.
What Are the Diagnosis Methods?
- The doctor will take the medical history and conduct a physicalexamination, and may also order additional procedures as needed, such as:
- Using X-rays and other imagingtests to examine the joints..
Laboratory tests to rule out other problems that might cause symptoms, like rheumatism.
What Are the Treatment Methods for Osteoarthritis?
- Treatment is implemented through several procedures oras needed and may include the following:
- Increasing physical activity. For more details, read the “Move for Life” guide.
- Physical therapy with muscle-strengthening exercises.
- Weightloss..
- Medications, including over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription medications. For more details, read the “medications” guide.
- Supportive devices, like crutches or canes.
Surgery (usually joint replacement, if other treatment options are not effective).
What Are the Prevention Methods for Osteoarthritis?
- Osteoarthritis results from daily use of your joints, and as a person ages, osteoarthritis increases. Therefore, you cannot completely prevent osteoarthritis, but you can partially prevent it by reducing daily pressure on your joints through:
- Maintaining ahealthy weight..
- Being active every day. For more details, read the “Move for Life” guide.
- Trying to prevent joint injuries.
Being attentive to any persistent pain in your joints.
What Are the Complications of Osteoarthritis?
- For many people, living with osteoarthritis will not cause significant problems. However, complications that may arise from severe osteoarthritis include:
- Deformity.
- Sleep disturbances. For more details on sleep and its importance, read the “Sleep Sovereign” guide.
- Decreased ability to exercise.
- Restrictions on performing daily tasks, (like difficulty gettingup from a chair or climbing stairs)..
Since osteoarthritis is a long-term condition, the pain and other symptoms of osteoarthritis might lead to fatigue, sleep problems, and feeling depressed.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Consult your doctor if you feel joint pain, or experience other symptoms of arthritis or osteoarthritis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the symptoms of osteoarthritis improve without surgery?
Yes, through physical therapy and strengthening the muscles around the joint, and also by reducing the pressure on the joint, for example, by losing weight if the osteoarthritis is in the knees.
Is joint replacement surgery a procedure with serious complications?
