An osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis. It is a joint condition that impacts the lives of millions of people yearly. A joint is a bone where two bones meet. The bones are protected with a tissue called cartilage. Osteoarthritis occurs when this cartilage tears apart, causing the joints to rub together. Over time, this can make joints appear stiff, painful, and inflamed.
Commonly, it can be seen in the elderly although adults can also develop osteoarthritis.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis can be managed well with the right treatment approach. If you are obese, managing a healthy weight will help.
Lifestyle measures like staying active and taking a healthy diet will help slow down the progression of the disease and manage painful attacks.
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis symptoms develop gradually and worsen as time elapses. Normally, a person with osteoarthritis can experience the following signs:
Pain. The affected joints may cause pain as you move around.
Stiffness. Stiffened joint when you wake up or after you are inactive.
Tenderness. You might feel tenderness in the joint when pressure is applied near to it.
Swelling. Swelling is when fluid starts to retain the tissues near to joints.
Bone spurs. The extra sharp edges of bone, like a hard lump, can form around the joint.
Grating sensation. It is a popping or cracking sensation when you use the joint.
When to see a doctor
If you have prolonged joint pain, inflammation, pain, or stiffness, make an appointment with your doctor.
What are the causes of osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a condition of the joint that occurs when the cartilage gradually impairs. Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue that keeps the joint motion fluid by coating the surfaces of the bones and promoting frictionless joint motion. If the cartilage does not function well, the bone will rub on the bone.
Only, for this reason, osteoarthritis is named as a “wear and tear” condition.
The damage to the joint may occur as a person ages, which is why aging is a common cause of joint damage that triggers osteoarthritis.
The older you are, the wear and tear may cause joint issues.
While there are some other causes of osteoarthritis as well, such as:
Other causes of joint damage include past injury, such as:
- ligament injuries
- torn cartilage
- dislocated joints
Less commonly, osteoarthritis is caused by joint malformation, poor posture, and obesity.
What are the risk factors linked to osteoarthritis?
Some people are likely to get osteoarthritis because of the risk factors, such as:
Older age. The risk of osteoarthritis increases as one age.
Gender. Women are likely to develop osteoarthritis, though the exact reason is not known yet.
Obesity. Being obese also contributes to osteoarthritis in many ways. The increased weight has to be borne by the joints in the hips and knees. The other reason being, fat tissues secrete proteins causing inflammation in the joints.
A family history. If you have a first-degree relative with osteoarthritis, your risk of getting it increases many times.
Repeated stress on the joint. If you are into a standing job, the stress on a joint may ultimately cause osteoarthritis.
Bone deformities. Malformed joints or any defect in cartilage can lead to bone deformities.
Metabolic diseases. Conditions like diabetes or hemochromatosis (a condition in which your body has too much iron) also elevates your risk of osteoarthritis.
The stages of osteoarthritis
OA progresses in stages, starting from 0 to 4. The first stage (O) represents a condition in which the joint acts normal while stage 4 is a severe one. Not compulsory everyone will progress to the end-stage. The right treatment approach can help with managing the severity of the condition.
People in the severe stages of OA have a complete loss of cartilage in joints.
Other complications that may exist in the severe stage of OA are as follow:
Decreased motion. You may not be able to move well enough because of stiffness or pain in the joints. Immobility can affect the quality of your life.
Increased swelling and inflammation. Synovial fluid also called synovia increases within the joint when you have osteoarthritis. Usually, this fluid promotes frictionless motion. But if the amount of fluid increases, pain and swelling can be observed.
Increased pain. Pain can be felt when at rest. The pain grows with each passing day. Swelling can be seen in people after a long tiring day.
Bone spur. Bone spurs are hard bumps of extra bone that form on the bone ends in the foot.
Joint instability. Your joints may become less stable. For instance, if you have severe OA, it may restrict joint movement. People with osteoarthritis are at an increased risk of falls.
The joint damage caused by severe OA isn’t reversible, but treatment can help reduce symptoms. Learn everything you need to know about advanced osteoarthritis.