- degenerative joint disease
- degenerative arthritis
- wear-and-tear arthritis
It’s estimated that OA affects more than 27million men and women over the age of 25 in the United States. It’s aleading cause of disability in adult Americans.
Risk factors for OA include:
- obesity
- a job that puts stress on your joints
- joint injury
- joint malformation
Causes and symptoms of OA
OA is caused bya breakdown in the cartilage that covers your joints. The protective tissue isdamaged by age and repeated motion. This increases friction as the bones of yourjoints rub against each other. It can also cause damage to the bones.
The most commonsymptoms of OA are pain and stiffness. OA can occur in any joint. However, themost commonly affected joints are in the:
- hands
- knees
- hips
- spine
OA is differentfrom rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disorder. With RA,your body’s immune system attacks joint tissue. This leads to swelling andpain.
What cartilage is
Cartilage is a toughbut rubbery substance covering the end of bones. It protects joints and allowsbones to move easily against each other. OA occurs when your cartilage beginsto degrade. The degeneration exposes the bones of the joint. Bone-on-bonecontact can cause extreme pain. The loss of cartilage may also affect the shapeof a joint. This may keep it from functioning smoothly.
Severity of OA
OA varies in severity.Some people may have evidence of OA during testing without any symptoms. Otherpeople may develop severe pain and stiffness.
Many people with OA havesome change in their mobility. Some eventually can’t perform certain activitiesrelated to daily life. These include problems with the following:
- getting in and out of chairs
- bathing
- dressing
- putting on shoes
In rare cases, damagefrom spinal OA can affect the function of your bowels and bladder. Spinal OAcan also cause tingling or weakness in your arms and legs.
Diagnosis for OA
OA is a slow-developing disease. It’s a silent disorder thatcan be difficult to diagnose until it begins to cause painful ordebilitating symptoms. Early OA is usually only diagnosed after anaccident or other incident that results in a fracture requiring an X-ray.
Over time, OA can cause:
- pain
- swelling
- stiffness
- limited range of motion
In addition to X-rays, your doctor may use an MRI scan todiagnose OA. This imaging test uses radio waves and a magnetic field to createimages of your bone and soft tissues. Other diagnostic tests include a bloodtest to rule out other conditions that cause joint pain like RA. A joint fluidanalysis can also be ordered to determine whether gout or an infection is theunderlying cause of inflammation.
Treatment options of OA
OA can’t be cured, but you can manage symptoms with acombination of lifestyle changes, home remedies, and medication. You’ll workwith your doctor to determine the best course of action. Depending on theseverity of the disease, the following treatments may relieve pain andstiffness:
Exercise:Physical activity strengthens the muscles around your joints. Aim for at least20 to 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Choose exercises that don’tirritate your joints such as walking, swimming, and gentle stretches. Tai chiand yoga can improve joint flexibility and reduce pain.
Lose weight:Being overweight can put too much strain on your joints and cause pain.Shedding excess pounds helps relieve this pressure and reduces pain. Inaddition, a healthy weight can lower your risk for other health problems, suchas diabetes and heart disease.
Heat and cold therapy:Experiment with heat and cold therapy to relieve muscle pain and stiffness.Apply a cold or hot compress to sore joints for 15 to 20 minutes several timesa day.
Pain relief: Useanti-inflammatory or numbing creams applied directly to sore joints, or takeover-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen(Advil), acetaminophen(Tylenol), and naproxen(Aleve, Naprosyn). If symptoms don’t improve with over-the-counter painrelievers, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid toreduce pain. You may also be a candidate for a cortisone injection in theaffected joint.
Therapeutic devices:Some devices can alleviate or ease pain from walking or standing. Wrap a bracearound your ankle, knee, and other joints. Use a walking cane if joint pain orstiffness slows mobility.
Alternative medicine:Alternative medicine and supplements may also relieve joint pain from OA.Options include acupuncture, massage therapy, and supplements such as fishoil and glucosamine(Optiflex-G). Talk to your doctor before combining supplements withprescription medication.
Sometimes, doctors recommend nonsurgical treatments toreduce joint pain and stiffness. Physical therapy can improve range of motionand strengthen the muscles around your joints. Because OA can also affect thejoints in your hands, knees, and fingers, it can result in differentlimitations. Working with an occupational therapist can help you cope withthese limitations and learn new ways to perform everyday tasks.
Your doctor may recommend surgical procedures if your conditiondoesn’t improve with home treatment and therapy. These include realignment bonesurgery and joint replacement surgery. Realignment surgery — which is commonwith OA of the knee — redistributes your weight and alleviates knee pressure.Joint replacement surgery replaces damaged joints with an artificial joint.
The outlook for OA
OA is a chronic condition that doesn’t have a cure, but theoutlook is positive with treatment and therapy. Don’t ignore symptoms ofchronic joint pain and stiffness. The sooner you speak with your doctor, thesooner you can receive a diagnosis, begin treatment, and improve the quality ofyour life.