Osteoarthritis
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis, estimated to affect more than 20 million people in North America. This widespread condition occurs when cartilage located in the joints begins to deteriorate, typically attacking one region at a time. Most commonly, the joints found in the hips, knees, hands, and spine are most vulnerable to this disease, where a gradual erosion of cartilage takes place. This is why osteoarthritis is often referred to as "wear-and-tear" arthritis?
Why is cartilage so important? This dense connective tissue covers the end of our bones and is responsible for providing cushioning throughout the day and night. Without the protection of cartilage, joints become susceptible to arthritis, as bones start to rub against one another. The friction causes painful inflammation, swelling, and other symptoms.
Often associated with older individuals, osteoarthritis can also act as a secondary condition in younger patients who have developed the disease due to injury, excess weight, heredity, or job-related stress on joints.
Osteoarthritis Symptoms and Treatment
Osteoarthritis symptoms tend to develop at a slow pace, becoming worse over time. Typically, the disease affects the hands, knees, hips, and spine. Common signs and symptoms a patient with osteoarthritis may exhibit include joint pain, tender joints, stiff joints, decreased flexibility, bone spurs and swelling.
Early detection and treatment of osteoarthritis is important because it is a disease that benefits from effective pain management. With as many as 1/3 of osteoarthritis patients eventually suffering a noticeable disability, finding adequate pain control becomes necessary for accomplishing daily tasks. Some people face symptoms of osteoarthritis so severe they are forced to quit their jobs or forego the activities they once took pleasure in.
Osteoarthritis worsens with time, making it important for patients to take control of their pain in order to lead a healthy, active life until a cure is discovered. Common treatments include NSAIDs (like Ibuprofen), steroids, joint replacement, and surgery. Each of these treatments poses side effects and risks.