Osteoarthritis: What it is and how to manage it

Often referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of this condition in the United States. Blame it on age, cartilage breakdown occurs due to years of using our joints.  The slippery tissue between the ends of bones in a joint is cartilage. When we move, to prevent the bones in our joints from rubbing together, cartilage helps absorb the shock of movement.  Unfortunately, as cartilage breaks down, we will begin to notice our bones in our joints rubbing against each other.  If this continues over time, it can cause permanent damage.

What are the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis?

There are several areas of the body that OA can affect – knees, hips, hands, and spine.  The symptoms that OA has arrived include the following:

·      Joint pain

·      Swelling

·      Tenderness

·      Stiffness

·      Noticing a rubbing, grating, or crackling sound when you move a joint

·      Pain gets worse when you are active, after exercising, or when pressure or weight is on the joint

·      Eventually, you may feel pain in joints even when at rest

·      Bone spurs (extra bone) may form around a joint

·      Ligaments and muscles around a joint may get weaker and stiffer

It is possible that a person may have OA without any symptoms; however an x-ray can show changes caused by OA.

Risk factors of osteoarthritis

There can be several risk factors for developing OA:

·      Older age – OA increase the older you get

·      Gender – Before age 55, OA occurs equally in men and women.  After age 55, it is more common in women

·      Being overweight or obese – Particularly hard on the knee joints

·      Joint injuries – Injuries from playing sports or from an accident can increase the risk of OA in that joint

·      Certain kinds of jobs – Repetitive movement or having to be on your feet or knees such as a carpet layer

·      Genetics – Some people have a genetic defect in joint cartilage

·      Infection – Sometimes an infection occurs in a joint and can lead to arthritis

How to live with osteoarthritis

It can be a challenge to live well with OA.  It cannot be cured but it can be managed with lifestyle changes, medications (prescription or over-the-counter), or other therapies.  Let your primary care physician know about your symptoms and have them help you manage your OA.  Here are some lifestyle management tips on how to live with OA that may help:

·      Stay active to help reduce joint pain and stiffness

·      Reach a healthy body weight which can help reduce stress on your joints

·      Use heat and cold therapies to reduce joint pain and swelling

·      Protect your joints from injury.  For example, always warm up before exercising, do range-of-motion exercises such as stretching, and avoid wearing high heels

·      Get enough rest

·      Do slow and gentle stretching exercises, which may help lessen joint stiffness and reduce pain

·      Use assistive devices such as jar openers, canes, scooters, or knee braces

·      Get physical therapy, and utilize flexibility and range of motion exercises which can help with pain management.