What is Osteoarthritis?
KneeComparisonshlthy
Osteoarthritis (OA), is a degenerative condition of the joints. Healthy joints move easily and without pain due to a smooth firm tissue covering the joints known as cartilage. OA is a condition where the cartilage breaks down and becomes frayed, rough, or even wears away. This can cause pain, stiffness and swelling. This can also be called "wear and tear" arthritis. It can affect any joint in the body, but most often is found in the knee or hip. Hands, the shoulders, and the back are other common locations of osteoarthritis.

What Causes OA?
KneeComparisonOA
We don't really know why some people get arthritis and some don't. We know it occurs more commonly in older patients, and it sometimes runs in families. However, younger patients can also develop arthritis. Some risk factors for arthritis include: obesity, injury to the joint, family history, age, and occupational factors. Arthritis that occurs due to an injury to the joint is known as traumatic arthritis.

What are the Symptoms of OA?
Symptoms range from mild irritation to debilitating pain. Pain is often worse in the morning and may improve during the day. Weather may affect the pain level. There can be swelling, stiffness or loss of motion, buckling and weakness. Rough cartilage may cause sticking, popping or catching of the joint.

What Treatment Options are Available?

Lifestyle modifications: Rest or changing your activity level may relieve your pain. This may mean modifying your sport, job or hobbies. For example, switching to low-impact activities such as biking, swimming or walking instead of running. If you are overweight, losing a few extra pounds may take some pressure off your painful joints. Physical therapy and exercise are excellent at maintaining joint range of motion and strength and increasing or maintaining activity levels or independence.

Medications: Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naprosyn can reduce the pain and inflammation around a joint. Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory agents that can be injected directly into the joint for relief of pain and swelling. Viscosupplementation such as Synvisc may also help. Glucosamine is a dietary supplement that may relieve joint pain.

Surgery: In some cases, OA may no longer respond to conservative management. Surgery may be necessary. Sometimes it may be as simple as a knee arthroscopy ("knee-scope") to "clean-up" the damaged arthritis and provide relief from locking or catching. In more severe arthritis, a knee or hip replacement may be the only option for relieving the pain of arthritis.

Don't let arthritis pain keep you from doing the things you like to do. Talk with your physician about these and other treatment options.