Understanding Osteoarthritis

Aches and pains are seen as a part of the aging process, but when they result from osteoarthritis, people who suffer this should know there are ways to make it more bearable. Understanding the causes and treatments for osteoarthritis can reduce pain.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and affects almost everyone as they age. It is a degenerative joint disease, also known as "wear and tear" arthritis. It occurs most frequently in weight bearing joints, including the knees, hips and ankles. The disease slowly breaks down the cartilage that covers the ends of each bone in a joint. Healthy cartilage acts as a shock absorber, but osteoarthritis causes the smooth cartilage surface to be rough and pitted. Without normal gliding surfaces, the bones in a joint will grind against each other, causing inflammation, pain and restricted movement. This condition can even lead to bone spurs.

Pain is the first and most obvious symptom of osteoarthritis. It begins as mild soreness and aching with movement, then progress to severe pain that can even be experienced while resting. This is due to irritation of and pressure on the nerve endings. Loss of easy movement is another common symptom of osteoarthritis. The patient will no longer be able to bend or rise normally. This lack of mobility will cause muscles serving the affected joints to weaken, and overall body condition will suffer from tension and fatigue.

Osteoarthritis is relatively simple to diagnose. Orthopedic doctors will take an x-ray of weight bearing joints and complete a simple examination. There are no time intensive, costly or invasive exams necessary in the diagnostic process.

There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but there are new ways to manage the associated pain, lack of mobility and fatigue. Hyaluronate is one of the best pain management options. It is an artificial substance that mimics the knee's own lubricating fluid and can reduce pain for nine to twelve months. The patient will receive five injections of Hyalgen-the trade name for hyaluronate-into the knees given one week apart.

Medications can be used to relieve pain as well. Coated aspirin will afford some relief to patients, and causes few side effects. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are another option for pain relief, but should not be taken in conjunction with an aspirin regimen.

Cortisone shots can reduce inflammation. Many patients say the shots make them symptom free for months at a time, or even years. The shots are given four to six times a year.

Changing one's diet can have a beneficial effect on osteoarthritis. While there is no evidence specific foods prevent or relieve symptoms, eating well and staying slim is important. Since the disease impacts weight bearing joints, the more a patient weighs the more pain they will experience. By maintaining a healthy weight, patients will be able to reduce joint pain while improving their quality of life.

Exercise and rest must both be done in moderation. Too much bed rest will cause excessive stiffness in the affected joints, while too much exercise can result in more joint damage. Finding a balanced routine which includes both moderate exercise and rest is the key.

There are two surgical options for people facing osteoarthritis. Arthroscopy is not generally indicated for people with arthritis, but can help if a patient has a "flap" of torn knee cartilage which is aggravating their condition. The flap can be removed through arthroscopy and thereby reduce some of the osteoarthritic pain.

Knee replacement and hip replacement are further surgical options. Joint replacement surgery is often seen as a positive solution to extreme pain and any disability caused by advanced osteoarthritis. The rough and worn cartilage in a patient's knee is replaced with smooth surfaces of plastic or metal components.

Even though most people will suffer from osteoarthritis at some point in life, it's good to remember there are a lot of options for reducing and eliminating the pain from this widespread condition.