What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis (a disease that affects your joints). Doctors and other healthcare professionals sometimes refer to it as degenerative joint disease or OA. It simply means the wearing down of your cartilage lining over time, resulting in your bones rubbing against each other every time you use your affected joints.

Traditionally, the ends of bones in your joints have a layer of tough, smooth cartilage. Cartilage is a type of two-in-one shock absorber and lubricant, allowing bones in joints to slide easily and safely past each other. You have osteoarthritis; thus, the cartilage within your affected joints degrades progressively. Eventually, your bones start rubbing on each other as you move your joints.

Osteoarthritis can influence any one of your joints, but you will mainly experience it affecting the following:

Hands.
Knees.
Hips.
Neck (cervical spine).
Lower back (lumbar spine).

Types of osteoarthritis:

A physician might classify osteoarthritis as one of two types:

Primary osteoarthritis is the most common type of osteoarthritis that occurs in joints as people age. Doctors consider it mainly the result of natural wear and tear from moving joints throughout one's lifetime.

Secondary osteoarthritis is caused by something that directly injures one of your joints enough to cause osteoarthritis. Most commonly, injuries and traumas are the causes of secondary osteoarthritis. Other forms of arthritis damage cartilage in your joints enough to cause osteoarthritis.

How common is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is very common. Medical professionals estimate that over 80% of adults older than 55 have osteoarthritis, although some may never go on to experience any symptoms.

About 60% of people with osteoarthritis have symptoms they can notice or feel.

What are osteoarthritis symptoms?

Most symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

Pain in a joint-especially when you move it.
Stiffness
Swelling near a joint.
A decreased range of motion-how far you can move a joint.
Feeling that a joint isn't as strong or stable as it typically is.
A joint appears quite different from what it was earlier (deformity of the joints).

What causes osteoarthritis?

Experts don't know what causes osteoarthritis. The primary form of osteoarthritis usually progresses slowly as one grows older. Probably over many years, the usual wear and tear on your joints may be accruing into the degeneration of their cartilage.

Anything that directly injures your joints also can cause osteoarthritis, including:

Sports injuries
Falls
Car accidents
Other health conditions affecting your joints, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or joint hypermobility syndrome

Other types of arthritis (specifically inflammatory arthritis) that can lead to osteoarthritis, including:

Rheumatoid arthritis
Gout
Psoriatic arthritis
Risk factors of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can strike at any age. However, adults over 55 and postmenopausal women and men tend to be more prone to it.

Some health conditions raise your chances of developing osteoarthritis. For instance;

Obesity, that is, a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30, or overweight, means a BMI above 25.
Diabetes
High cholesterol also referred to as hyperlipidemia
Some autoimmune diseases that affect your joints.

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

A medical doctor will diagnose osteoarthritis with an evaluation by physical exam and through imaging tests. They will view the condition of your joints and ask you when you first began experiencing some related symptoms. Tell them if certain activities make your symptoms worse or if they come and go.

What tests are involved in diagnosing osteoarthritis?

Your doctor may take pictures of your joints using X-rays or an MRI or CT scan.

You may need blood tests to rule out other conditions or problems that cause similar symptoms.

What is the outlook for people with osteoarthritis?

A treatment plan to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis is developed with your health professional. Once arthritis develops, you cannot replace the cartilage in your damaged joints. Your provider can help you develop strategies to cope with your symptoms when they occur.

The most common treatments for osteoarthritis are:

Medication: OTC pain relievers should reduce the pain and inflammation. You may need oral meds or topical pain relievers, which involve creams, ointments, or patches you apply to your skin near the affected joints.
Exercise: Mobilize your joints. This can help loosen up stiff spots and strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint. Low-impact activities like swimming, water aerobics, or weight training are good places to start. Your provider may refer you to a physical therapist.
Supportive devices: Shoe inserts or a brace may be used to support and stabilize your joints. Using a cane or walker will help relieve pressure on your affected joints and make it safer for you to get around.
Heat and cold treatment: Applying heat or cold on your affected joints may help ease the pain and stiffness. Your doctor will instruct you on how often (and for how long) to apply a heating pad, ice packs, or a cool compress.
Complementary therapy: Some treatments can be combined with others. For example, acupuncture, massage, meditation, tai chi, and dietary supplements are examples of complementary medicine. Consult your provider before you begin taking any herbal or dietary supplements.
Surgery: Surgery is usually not required to cure osteoarthritis. This can be undertaken if your symptoms are severe and other treatments are not working. You might require a joint replacement or arthroplasty. Your doctor or surgeon can explain to you what this involves.

How do I prevent osteoarthritis?

Generally taking good care of your health is The best way to prevent osteoarthritis. This includes:

Not smoking.
Exercising your body with low-impact activities.
Eating a healthy diet.
Always wearing your seatbelt.
Wearing appropriate protective gear in any sporting, recreational, or work you do.
Make a regular visit to your health care provider once you start having some changes with your joints.

What can I expect if I have osteoarthritis?

Most people who suffer from osteoarthritis will have to live with managing their symptoms. Your healthcare provider will help you find the right combination of treatments to reduce your symptoms.

If you are a victim of osteoarthritis, then it is very important to remain active as far as possible. If the disease has caught you and your joint pain and other symptoms restrain you from mobility, it might risk you facing certain life-threatening conditions such as heart diseases, diabetes, and some types of cancer.

Talk with your doctor if osteoarthritis makes it hard (or impossible) to be active. They will help you find other ways to manage the symptoms.

Living With

How can I make living with osteoarthritis easier?

You could need to adjust your routine to better handle osteoarthritis. If you know when you're experiencing symptoms-and how bad those symptoms are-you can avoid or change your activities based on what's going on with your symptoms. You may work with an occupational therapist if you need help doing your daily activities. Occupational therapists are medical providers who can help you cope with physical challenges such as arthritis. They might recommend:

Adaptive equipment, including jar-opening grips.
Ways to do hobbies, sports or other activities with minimal joint risk.
Ideas to reduce joint pain when you're having an arthritic flare.

When to seek medical care?

See your doctor immediately if you experience any symptoms of osteoarthritis. Even slight joint discomfort may be the first sign of your need for treatment—and that should get better in a few days, of course.

Cartilage degeneration cannot be reversed, but it can prevent progressing damage from occurring inside your joints as you begin osteoarthritis treatment.

Tell your provider if you feel that your symptoms are flaring up more frequently or are worse than they were when you first presented. Discuss with your doctor about other treatment options or changes you might want to make to your existing treatments if you feel like they're not working as well as they usually do.

Why Choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Osteoarthritis Treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Osteoarthritis treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced orthopedic specialists and rheumatologists who provide accurate diagnosis with advanced imaging, personalized medical care, and both non-surgical and surgical treatment options. Our Orthopedics and Joint Care team has decades of experience in successfully treating Osteoarthritis in Lucknow, India.