Creaky joints – the malady of old age. This
is a sure sign that we can never run against father time. Stiff and painful
joints are one of the most common complaints of aging people coupled with
forgetfulness, wrinkles, and lack of energy. Yet you’ll be surprised to know
that this pain and suffering is preventable, if not entirely avoidable.Let us dive deep to discuss this all-too-common serious
health situation called osteoarthritis. In this article, you can get valuable
insights and ideas on how to make your life easier and your days better if you
are suffering from this condition.
Osteoarthritis
Facts
Are you suffering from joint pain
and stiffness? Do you find it hard to move and be active aging is finally
creeping up in your body? The reason
behind this pain is worth your attention. Here are interesting titbits of
information about osteoarthritis:
●
Most people
think of arthritis, osteoporosis, and bone density problems as an “old
person’s” condition, but it can affect many younger people, even athletes,
causing pain and limitation of activity.
●
Osteoarthritis
occurs when the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint has
been damaged or wears down over time.
●
Osteoarthritis
affects only joints and does not affect the internal organs.
●
It can be
because of aging changes in the bone, heredity, and injury from trauma or
disease.
·
Osteoarthritis affects joints in your hands, knees, hips, and spine.
●
Symptoms
vary significantly, depending on how severe they are and which joints are
affected.
●
Ultimate
treatment plan goals and objectives of osteoarthritis are to reduce joint pain
and inflammation while improving and maintaining joint function.
●
Though some
of the joint changes are irreversible, most patients will not need joint
replacement surgery.
●
The damage
of osteoarthritis is irreversible, but experts are trying to find ways to slow
this joint damage.
●
Your diet
and lifestyle during your younger years will contribute to osteoarthritis as
you go older.
What is
Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most
common joint disorder. It likely begins with the breakdown of articular
cartilage, an active material that cushions and protects the bone ends.
Cartilage allows bones to smoothly glide over one another and effectively
absorb the shock of physical movement.
Friction in the joint causes pain, swelling,
and decreased range of motion. Sometimes small deposits of bone, known as
osteophytes, start to grow at the edge of the joint. If these osteophytes break
off and float into the joint space, they can cause more pain and damage.
Types of
Osteoarthritis
OA
(Osteoarthritis) is classed as either primary or as secondary to a diagnosed
cause. There’s not much of a difference in signs and symptoms, but there is a
difference in what causes the cartilage to break down in the first place.
· Primary
Osteoarthritis (OA) or idiopathic
It tends to
develop starting from the age of 55 or 60, due to aging “wear and tear” over
time.
· Secondary
Osteoarthritis (OA)
This type of
osteoarthritis occurs with a specific cause, such as:
ü Injury- If
you fracture a bone in an accident
ü An effect
of obesity -every extra pound you gain adds pressure to your joints
ü Genetics -
if osteoarthritis seems to run in your family
ü Inactivity
- if you’re inactive, you tend to develop weaker muscles and tendons that
surround the joint
ü Caused by
another disease – infection
Causes
of Osteoarthritis
Joints
consist of natural shock absorbers known as cartilage. The cartilage cushions
the end of the bones deteriorates and reduces friction in healthy joints.
The
cartilage breakdown because it does not have its blood supply as it relies on
the synovial fluid to provide nourishment. Inadequate nutrition may be a factor
in the development of arthritic changes. Inflammation and injury are causing
the breaking down of cartilage tissues to the common resulting in swelling,
pain, limited movements of the joints, and deformity of the joint.
Risk Factors
There are risk factors that you cannot
control in developing osteoarthritis.
1. Aging
2. Other
hereditary disorders
3. Obesity
4. Fracture
around the joint.
5. Gender.
Over the age of 50, women are more to develop osteoarthritis than men.
6. Genetic
defect or joint abnormality that makes them more vulnerable.
Symptoms
and Signs
Symptoms appear gradually. It typically
starts after age 40 and gets worse over time with slow progression. The joint
may lose its regular shape.
Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
○
swollen
joints,
○
joint
stiffness,
○
pain
○
joint
creaking, and
○
loss of
function
○
deformity
○
instability
Diagnosis
No single test can diagnose osteoarthritis.
Most rheumatologists use several methods, including medical history, a physical
exam, x-rays, or lab tests.
Blood
tests are performed to exclude Infectious diseases that can cause secondary
osteoarthritis, as well as to eliminate other arthritis conditions that can
mimic osteoarthritis.
When to see a doctor
If you have
joint pain or stiffness that doesn't go away, better make an appointment with
your doctor. Don’t attempt to self-medicate as most pain medications offer
nothing but temporary pain relief.
Too many
pain medications taken over the course of your life can also negatively
affect your kidneys. It’s better to go right through the root cause of your
pain by modifying your lifestyle and nutrition. This is better than “Band-Aid”
pain pills relief.
Treatment
At
present, no remedy could stop the erosion
of cartilage in its joints but there are supplements that can help you to
manage your pain and swelling. It will
likely get worse over time, but the symptoms can be managed. There are ways to
reduce pain and to improve and strengthen the muscles around the affected joints.
Doctors prescribe medicines to eliminate or.
Procedures differ from the use of alternative medicine such as acetaminophen,
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and more.
Exercise, diet, lifestyle changes, physical
therapy exercises, and physical aids such as canes or braces that provide
support and alignment may reduce joint pain. Treatments sometimes include surgical
intervention if the symptoms don't improve.
Osteoarthritis is currently a significant public
health problem. There are no highly effective pharmaceutical treatments that
exist to cure osteoarthritis, and surgical options are expensive and not widely
available.
However,
osteoarthritis is a manageable disease. A vital strategy in addressing the
disease burden of osteoarthritis is prevention.
Preventing injuries is also important to ward off osteoarthritis. Ask
your doctor about lifestyle management tips that are specific to your OA needs.
At present clinicians manage patients with a combination of methods. So, if you
are suffering from osteoarthritis, there's hope.
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