Whether it's bending your elbow to lift a cup of tea in the morning or swivelling your hips to the beat of your favourite song, our joints are responsible for allowing us to move in all the ways we need to go about our daily lives. Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to have perfectly functioning joints. One common condition affecting many people is osteoarthritis — a degenerative joint disease that generally affects older individuals. In this article, we'll help you understand what is osteoarthritis, its symptoms, treatment methods, and more.
What is Osteoarthritis?
So, what is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a really common disease that usually comes with age. It happens over a long time when the cartilage in the joints that cushions the ends of the bones starts wearing away. That’s why people with osteoarthritis experience inflammation, pain, swelling, and other symptoms. This disease can make your joints stiff and easy to damage. Over time, even the cartilage disappears completely. In simple words, your joints can’t handle shocks as well as they used to.
Types of Osteoarthritis
There are two types of osteoarthritis you should know about.
The first one is called primary osteoarthritis, and it generally affects different places in your body, like the spine, fingers, thumbs, toes, hips, and knees.
The second type is called secondary osteoarthritis, which happens when you already have a joint abnormality. This can be caused by sports injuries or forms of inflammatory arthritis like psoriatic, gout, and rheumatoid.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Here are some signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis to look out for —
- Hurting joints: You may feel pain when moving or after doing any activity.
- Morning stiffness: Joints might feel stiff when you wake up or after being still for a while.
- Tender to the touch: Applying light pressure to or near the joint might cause tenderness.
- Limited flexibility: You might have difficulty moving the joint fully.
- Grating feeling: You could experience a grating sensation or hear popping/crackling sounds.
- Bone spurs: Hard lumps, like extra bits of bone, can form around the affected joint.
- Swelling: Soft tissue inflammation around the joint might cause swelling.
Causes of Osteoarthritis
You’re probably wondering, “What causes osteoarthritis?” As stated earlier, osteoarthritis occurs when the cushiony cartilage in the joints starts breaking down. In general, cartilage keeps movement smooth and painless. But when it wears away, your bones are left to rub against each other directly, which is painful. There are a few different reasons why people get osteoarthritis, but the most common ones are —
- Being overweight: If you want to avoid this type of arthritis, it's important to maintain a healthy weight.
- Genetics: Sometimes, people inherit a gene defect that makes their cartilage break down faster, leading to osteoarthritis.
- Injuries: Injuries from playing sports or taking a tumble can contribute to osteoarthritis. The specific type of arthritis might depend on where the injury occurred. For example, a bad lower back injury could lead to spine osteoarthritis.
- Other health conditions: If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you're more likely to develop osteoarthritis. Certain conditions like excessive hormone growth or too much iron in the body can also increase the risk of osteoarthritis.
- Joint stress: Overworking your joints can also lead to osteoarthritis. For instance, this can happen when your job requires repetitive bending of the knees.
Stages of Osteoarthritis
Let's break down the stages of osteoarthritis for a better understanding.
- Stage 1: This is a minor stage where joints have experienced slight wear and tear. There might be little or no pain in the affected area.
- Stage 2: This is a milder condition where bone spurs become more noticeable, and the affected area feels stiff. Patients might need a brace for support.
- Stage 3: At this point, the cartilage around the joints starts to erode. Patients may experience inflammation and discomfort while performing normal activities.
- Stage 4: In this severe stage, the cartilage is completely damaged, leading to painful and inflamed joints. The overgrowth of bone spurs can also cause unbearable pain.
Risks Associated with Osteoarthritis
While osteoarthritis can affect almost anyone, there are a few things that can increase your chances of getting it:
- Women are more at risk of developing the disease than men.
- After menopause, the likelihood of getting osteoarthritis increases for women.
- You’re more susceptible to this condition if your job involves heavy lifting or climbing.
- Having other health conditions like diabetes can also increase your risk for osteoarthritis.
- You may inherit a tendency to develop this condition.
Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis
When you see a doctor, he/she will check your joint to see if it's tender, swollen, red, and flexible using physical tests. The doctor will also ask about your pain level and how it changes with activity and rest. But that's not all. Your doctor may recommend other diagnostic processes, such as —
- Imaging tests: These tests let the doctor get a closer look at your joint. Your doctor may suggest —
- X-rays: Although cartilage isn't visible on X-ray images, narrowing of the space between bones can indicate cartilage loss. X-rays can also show the presence of bone spurs.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This procedure utilises radio waves and a magnetic field to provide extremely detailed images of bones and cartilage. While not always necessary for diagnosing osteoarthritis, MRI can provide additional information in complex cases.
- Lab tests: Sometimes, blood or joint fluid analysis can help confirm the diagnosis. Your doctor may perform these tests —
- Blood tests: While there’s no specific blood test to diagnose osteoarthritis, certain tests can help rule out other reasons behind joint pain, like rheumatoid arthritis.
- Joint fluid analysis: The doctor may utilise a needle to take a fluid sample from the affected joint, which can then be tested for signs of inflammation.
Treatment of Osteoarthritis
You’re likely to wonder, “What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis?” Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Treatment for OA involves managing multiple symptoms to bring patients much-needed relief. Here are the top treatment options to consider —
- Medicine: There are medications out there to help ease your pain, including
- Acetaminophen: It's been proven to provide relief for mild to moderate pain, but be careful not to exceed the recommended dose to avoid liver damage.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Over-the-counter options like Ibuprofen and Naproxen Sodium are effective at recommended doses.
- Duloxetine: Although commonly used as an antidepressant, it is also used to treat chronic pain.
- Therapy: Here are some effective therapies to consider —
- Physical therapy: Strengthen your muscles, improve flexibility, and reduce pain with targeted exercises. Plus, simple activities like swimming or walking can work wonders.
- Occupational therapy: This offers smart solutions for everyday tasks. Find ways to ease the strain on your achy joints, from toothbrushes with comfy grips to shower benches.
You’re probably wondering, apart from medication and therapy, what is the best treatment for osteoarthritis in the knees or other joints? Here are a few things you can do to help manage this condition:
- Get a good night’s sleep to reduce inflammation and swelling in your joints
- Maintain a healthy weight, as it has a host of other benefits
- Apply heat and cold compresses to your joints
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there therapy options that help with osteoarthritis?
Yes, you can try therapies like acupuncture or massage therapy. Just remember to chat with your doctor first. He/she might suggest a physiotherapist or occupational therapist for expert guidance.
2. Is surgery required to cure osteoarthritis?
If conservative treatments aren't doing the trick, your doctor might suggest some procedures like —
- Bone realignment: If one side of your knee has been damaged more than the other due to osteoarthritis, bone realignment surgery helps shift the weight away from the part of your knee that's worn out.
- Joint replacement surgery: Your surgeon replaces worn-out joint surfaces with plastic and metal parts.
Conclusion
For anyone pondering the question, “What is osteoarthritis of the knee and other joints?” we hope this article has helped. It is a common condition affecting the joints, mainly in older people. While there is no cure for this disease, there are many ways to manage it. Staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and seeking proper medical treatment can help you deal with osteoarthritis. If you or someone you know experiences any of the above-mentioned symptoms, don't hesitate to seek professional help. Having health insurance can provide access to necessary treatments and therapies, making it easier to manage conditions like osteoarthritis effectively.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your general physician or another certified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.