Osteoarthritis, also called joint wear or degenerative arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis. It happens when the smooth cartilage covering the ends of bones in joints starts to wear down. This wearing can cause more friction, pain, and stiffness.
Although osteoarthritis can develop in any joint, it’s most common in the hands, spine, knees, hips, and feet.
In this article, we will cover the symptoms of osteoarthritis, its causes, how it is diagnosed, and treatment options.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis or joint wear
A joint is formed when two bones are covered with a smooth slippery layer called cartilage. This helps one bone slide easily over the other. Osteoarthritis happens when this cartilage layer starts to wear away.
Usually many symptoms appear with osteoarthritis, but some symptoms are more common, These symptoms include:-
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Mild to severe joint pain.
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A feeling of grinding and rubbing inside the joint.
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Swelling.
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Morning joint stiffness that gets better with movement.
Besides that, there may be several more specific signs and symptoms depending on the affected joint, These can include the following:-
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Hands:- Joint roughness in the hands can cause small bony lumps on the fingers. It can also lead to joint swelling and discomfort in that area.
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Knees:- Knee joint wear can cause difficulty walking, standing up from sitting, and climbing stairs. It can eventually lead to knee osteoarthritis.
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Hips:- Besides hip pain and stiffness, hip joint wear can cause severe pain in the thigh, inner thigh, buttocks, and hips. It can also cause trouble bending.
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Spine:- Besides pain and stiffness in the neck and lower back, this type of joint wear can press on spine nerves. This can cause weakness, tingling, or numbness in the arms and legs.
Causes of joint wear or osteoarthritis
Although many believe that intense or long periods of physical exercise cause joint wear, recent studies show moderate exercise does not make it worse.
Also, there are other causes of joint wear including the following:
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Past painful joint injuries.
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Weak muscles around the joints.
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Difference in leg length.
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Too much or repeated physical work activity.
Besides these, other risk factors can raise the chance of osteoarthritis or joint wear, including:
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High bone density.
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Anatomical bone or joint deformities.
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Vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
How to diagnose osteoarthritis
To accurately diagnose osteoarthritis, healthcare providers usually do a full assessment. During this, they examine the affected joint, take the person’s medical and family history, and discuss symptoms carefully.
Also, X-rays can be done to get a clear image of the affected joint. This test can show damage to the bones and joints, and any loss of joint space.
Besides that, healthcare providers might order an MRI if they suspect damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, or other soft tissues happening at the same time.
Options for treating osteoarthritis
Depending on how bad the osteoarthritis symptoms are, the healthcare provider might suggest different treatment options, The most common options include:
1. Medications
Healthcare providers often recommend pain relievers or NSAIDs to help treat osteoarthritis pain and inflammation.
Also, some creams, pain-relief massage, or sprays might help with symptoms. Sometimes oral corticosteroids or joint injections are needed to ease worsening arthritis and degeneration.
2. Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes help manage osteoarthritis symptoms. One major lifestyle change is keeping a healthy body weight, Weight loss can help with:-
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Reducing extra pressure on the joint affected by arthritis.
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Improving daily functioning.
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Lowering overall pain in the person with arthritis.
Also, staying active with an exercise plan focused on strength, flexibility, and fitness is key for self-care in arthritis. A healthcare provider can guide safe ways to start a new fitness routine. Physical therapy may also be recommended.
3. Surgery
In severe arthritis or osteoarthritis cases, surgery might be needed, especially if other treatments fail, depending on the affected area, Surgery types may include:-
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Joint replacement surgery.
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Joint fusion surgery.
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Osteotomy surgery.
4. Braces
In some cases, braces can reduce some osteoarthritis symptoms, andThese braces can help with:
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Applying gentle pressure on the joints.
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Improving joint stability.
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Redistributing pressure on the joint.
The healthcare provider may also suggest using similar supportive devices to treat osteoarthritis in fingers, wrist, ankle, or elbows.
Preventing osteoarthritis
It might be possible to stop osteoarthritis from getting worse or symptoms from showing by managing some risk factors linked to it. These steps might include:
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Keeping a healthy body weight and avoiding obesity.
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Joining injury prevention programs before exercising.
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Building strength in certain muscles that support the joints.
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Using braces during intense work activities or workouts.
