Osteoarthritis(OA) is one of the oldest and most common
forms of arthritis. Other common rheumatic conditions include gout, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.Known as the “wear-and-tear” kind of arthritis, an estimated 21 million US adults have this potentially debilitating condition (Arthritis Rheum 1998;41(5):778-799).
OA is a chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of the bones and allows smooth as glass on ice type movement of joints. The breakdown of cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint.
Osteoarthritis is known by many different names, including degenerative joint disease, ostoarthrosis, hypertrophic arthritis and degenerative arthritis. Your health care provider might choose to use one of these terms to better describe what is happening in your body, but for our purposes, we will refer to all of these as osteoarthritis.
It is thought that osteoarthritis dates back to ancient humans. Evidence of osteoarthritis has been found in ice-aged skeletons. Despite the longevity and frequency of the disease, the cause is still not completely known and there is no cure. In fact, many different factors may play a role in whether or not you get OA, including age, obesity, injury or overuse and genetics.
There are several stages of osteoarthritis:
- Cartilage loses elasticity and is more easily damaged by injury or use.
- Wear of cartilage causes changes to underlying bone. The bone thickens and cysts may occur under the cartilage. Bony growths, called spurs or osteophytes, develop near the end of the bone at the affected joint.
- Bits of bone or cartilage float loosely in the joint space.
- The joint lining, or the synovium, becomes inflamed due to cartilage breakdown causing cytokines (inflammation proteins) and enzymes that damage cartilage further.
- Changes in the cartilage and bones of the joint can lead to pain, stiffness and use limitations.
- Deterioration of cartilage can:
- Affect the shape and makeup of the joint so it doesn’t function smoothly. This can mean that you limp when you walk or have trouble going up and down stairs.
- Cause fragments of bone and cartilage to float in joint fluid causing irritation and pain.
- Cause bony spurs, called osteophytes, to develop near the ends of bones
- Mean the joint fluid doesn’t have enough hyaluronan, which affects the joint’s ability to absorb shock.
For management of the daily aches and pains of over-extended joints or mild osteoarthritis, your health care provider may recommend:
- Rest. If you’re experiencing pain or inflammation in your joint, rest it for 12 to 24 hours.
- Exercise. Get regular exercise when you feel up to it. Stick to gentle exercises, such as walking, biking or swimming.
- Lose weight. Being overweight or obese increases the stress on your weight-bearing joints, such as your knees and your hips. Even a small amount of weight loss can relieve some pressure and reduce your pain.
- Use heat and cold to manage pain. Both heat and cold can relieve pain in your joint. Heat also relieves stiffness and cold can relieve muscle spasms. Cool the pain in your joint with cold treatments, such as with ice packs. Don’t use cold treatments if you have poor circulation or numbness.
- Work with a physical therapist. Ask your provider for a referral to a physical therapist. The physical therapist can work with you to create an individualized exercise plan that will strengthen the muscles around your joint, increase your range of motion in your joint and reduce your pain.
- Find ways to avoid stressing your joints.
- Apply over-the-counter pain creams. Some creams numb the pain by creating a hot or cool sensation. Other creams contain medications, such as aspirin-like compounds, that are absorbed into your skin. Read the label so you know what you’re using. Pain creams work best on joints that are close the surface of your skin, such as your knees and fingers.
For more information please visit: The Mayo Clinic
The Arthritis Foundation
