Osteoarthritis

Description

The literal meaning of the word osteo is bone and arthritis is inflammation of joints, hence, osteoarthritis is a chronic (long term) condition affecting small joints. It is the most common form of arthritis and mostly affects hands, knees, hips, and spine. Osteoarthritis causes irreversible damage to the joints. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in a joint to become stiff, thereby, decreasing its ability to act as a shock absorber.

Causes

Known causes of osteoarthritis are:

Heredity,
Obesity,
Injury,
Overuse of joints,
Other diseases like rheumatoid arthritis can also cause osteoarthritis,
Ageing,
Poor posture,
Female gender.

Risk factors

Few factors that can be changed which may help to some extent:

Obesity can increase the load on joints, making them vulnerable to OA and fractures.
Less Calcium intake weakens the bones.
Body posture e.g. sitting in the office, standing for a longer period of time while cooking or cleaning, frequent climbing of stairs, kneeling.
Too much or too less activity can also lead to joint problems.
Fall and injury to the joint like in athletes.

Factors that can’t be changed at all:

The weakening of bones in Old age.
Women after menopause undergo hormonal changes and this might be a cause of OA in elder women.
(Genetics) A family history of arthritis.
Bone and cartilage deformities in some birth defects.
Bleeding disorders like hemophilia (bleeding in joint space may cause hardening of cartilage) and avascular necrosis( less blood supply to joints)
Diseases affecting joints like gout and rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms

Pain when walking or moving the joint.
Swelling and tenderness in joints after even the slightest activity.
Stiffness in joints (knees and wrists) after sitting for a long time or waking-up.
Hard lump like structures (bone spurs) can be felt near the tender joint.
Limited movement of joints.
Grating sounds are heard on moving joints.
Backache is a common problem and limits a person to certain activities only.

Diagnosis

The doctor will examine the joints’ appearance and movement for possible signs of arthritis.

In addition, he will prescribe:

Lab tests like blood tests (to check the presence of rheumatoid arthritis factors) and joint-fluid tests (a needle goes in the joint to draw out joint fluid to check for gout and infections)
X-Rays will show signs of joint space enlarging due to thinning of cartilage, presence of bone spurs and MRI will help see bones and cartilage.

Management

Simple tips can create a difference! Try reducing extra weight, doing yoga and gentle exercises to help stiff joints and changing the usual ways of sitting and standing.

Dietary changes by eating fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C (citrus fruits, tomatoes, berries), vitamin D and calcium (milk, yogurt, eggs, fish), and food rich in antioxidants (green veggies and carrots, apricots). Spices like turmeric and ginger have anti-inflammatory effects.

Medicines like acetaminophen and NSAIDs for pain and inflammation.

Surgery to replace severely damaged joints, realign the damaged joint by putting in a part of healthy bone in stress bearing area, injecting lubricant or corticosteroid into joint space to reduce friction and relieve pain.

When to consult a doctor?

You should consult a doctor if the stiffness and pain in your joints does not go away on taking pain relieving medicines, your symptoms worsen, or there is a general feeling of discomfort and fatigue.