OsteoarthritisUpdated 2 years ago
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, commonly known as degenerative joint disease (DJD), is the most prevalent kind of arthritis. It develops when the protective layer of cartilage which cushions the bony ends deteriorates over time. All of these changes typically occur gradually and worsen over time.
CLASSIFICATION
Osteoarthritis is classified into two types:
PRIMARY | Most frequent, generalized, mainly affecting the fingers, thumbs, spine, hips, knees, and large toes. |
SECONDARY | Develops alongside pre-existing joint abnormalities, such as recurred or sports-related injury or trauma, inflammatory arthritis, and other kinds of arthritis. |
CAUSES
Studies suggest a combination of environmental and body elements may contribute to developing osteoarthritis, but the exact cause is unknown.
Joint injury | Overusing a joint that hasn't had time to heal from an injury or surgery. |
Other conditions | Osteoarthritis can develop in joints that a prior or existing ailment, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, has badly injured. |
Age | Aging increases the chance of developing osteoarthritis. |
Genetics | Osteoarthritis may exist in families. However, no single gene has been proven to cause this, based on studies. |
Obesity | Extra body weight puts additional strain on the joints, especially those that bear most of the weight, such as the knees and hips. |
Gender | Osteoarthritis affects more women than males. |
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of osteoarthritis frequently appear gradually and worsen with time. The following are the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis:
Pain | Affected joints may experience pain during or after movement. |
Stiffness | Joint stiffness may be particularly evident upon waking up or after inactivity. |
Tenderness | Light pressure applied to or close to the joint may cause it to feel sore. |
Loss of flexibility | The joint might be unable to move through its entire range of motion. |
Grating sensation | A grating sensation could be experienced when using the joint and crackling or popping sounds could be heard. |
Bones spurs | Extra bone fragments, which feel like hard lumps, can grow around the afflicted joint. |
Swelling | Soft tissue inflammation around the joint could be the reason for this. |
DIAGNOSIS
Physical Exam | The healthcare provider will examine the affected joint for inflammation, swelling, redness, and flexibility during the physical examination. |
X-rays | Cartilage does not show up on X-ray scans, but a narrowing of the area between the bones in the joint shows cartilage loss. Bone spurs around a joint can also be seen on an X-ray. |
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | Creates comprehensive images of bone and soft tissues, including cartilage, using radio waves and a strong magnetic field. |
Blood testing | There is no specific blood test for osteoarthritis. Some procedures can help rule out other causes of joint pain, like rheumatoid arthritis. |
Joint fluids analysis | Fluid is taken from the affected joint and sent for analysis. |
TREATMENTS
1.Medications
a. NSAIDs - can help reduce inflammation.
b. Oral analgesics - Acetaminophen and other pain medicines lessen the pain but not swelling.
c. Topical analgesics - These OTC medications come in creams, gels, and patches. They can relieve discomfort, particularly for mild arthritis symptoms, and assist in pain relief for the joint area.
2. Therapy
a. Physical rehabilitation - A physical therapist can demonstrate exercises that can improve flexibility, decrease pain, and strengthen the muscles around joints.
b. Occupational therapy - An occupational therapist can assist in performing daily tasks without putting extra pressure on the affected joint.
c. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) - This uses a low-voltage electrical current to treat pain. It gives short-term relief to clients with knee and hip osteoarthritis.
3. Surgical and non-surgical procedures
Surgery is often reserved for those with severe osteoarthritis. If conservative therapies don't succeed, the following procedures may be considered:
a. Cortisone injections into the joint may reduce discomfort for a few weeks.
b. Lubricant injections - Hyaluronic acid injections may alleviate pain by supplying some cushioning in the knee. Hyaluronic acid is similar to a substance present in joint fluid.
c. If osteoarthritis has caused greater damage to one side of the knee than the other, an osteotomy may be beneficial. This distributes the body's weight away from the damaged area.
