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Osteoarthritis
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a disease that causes the breakdown of the cartilage in joints. It also called degenerative arthritis. Cartilage is the joint's cushion. It covers the ends of bones and allows free movement. If it becomes rough, frays, or wears away, it causes bones to grind against each other. As a result, the joint becomes irritated and inflamed. Sometimes the irritation causes abnormal bone growths, called spurs, which increase swelling. The disease normally affects the feet, knees, lower back, hips, and fingers. Usually only one or maybe a few joints are affected at one time.
Osteoarthritis is 3 times more common in women than in men. It is usually more bothersome after the age of 60. 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 and possibly by inflammation within cartilage. 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
- weakness in muscles around the sore joint from lack of use
- deformity of the joint.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will review your medical history and examine you. Your health care provider 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 medicine for pain relief in osteoarthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen are also used but are not always safe in individuals with other medical problems. If acetaminophen does not work, see your health care provider for more guidance and evaluation.
Rubbing anti-inflammatory or deep-heat creams over the arthritic joint can sometimes be helpful for short-term relief. Putting an ice pack on the joint once or twice a day can also help relieve pain.
Your health care provider may inject steroids into the painful joint.
If you are overweight, your health care provider may recommend that you lose weight by eating fewer calories, by increasing your physical activity, or both.
Canes and splints offer protection. Physical therapy provides relief from pain and muscle spasms, and maintains joint range of motion. Regular gentle exercise is very important for controlling osteoarthritis.
Sometimes severely damaged hips and knees may be 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 health care provider 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 medicine your health care provider recommends for controlling your osteoarthritis.
- Keep your body healthy by eating a healthy, varied, low-fat diet.
- Follow your health care provider's recommendations for weight control.
- Contact your local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.
Reviewed by David A. Fox, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine, Rheumatolgoy Division, University of Michigan Health System, April 2005
Developed by Ann Carter, MD, for McKesson Health Solutions LLC.
Published by McKesson Health Solutions LLC.
Last modified: 2004-11-05
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
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