Osteoarthritis

Understanding Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that occurs when cartilage, the flexible connective tissue found on the ends of bones, wears away over time. Osteoarthritis can happen at any joint in the body; however, the most commonly affected joints are those in the hands, hips, knees and the spine.

What are the Causes of Osteoarthritis?

While the exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, there are several risk factors associated with the disease:

• Age. The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age.
• Gender. Osteoarthritis is more common in women.
• Obesity. Extra weight puts added stress on joints, especially the hips and knees.
• Injury. Injury to a joint may increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis later on.
• Occupation. Jobs that involve repetitive stress on a joint may cause osteoarthritis in that joint later on.
• Heredity. Some people are genetically predisposed to developing osteoarthritis.
• Other medical conditions. Certain diseases, such as gout, diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis.

What are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

The symptoms of osteoarthritis typically begin as a mild annoyance and then progressively worsen over time. Symptoms may include:

• Pain. The pain associated with osteoarthritis may feel achy, burning or sharp. It may be constant or intermittent.
• Stiffness. Joints may feel stiff after getting up first thing in the morning or after sitting for a length of time.
• Decreased range of motion. Osteoarthritis can cause difficulty in bending, flexing or extending the joint. Sometimes it can cause inability to use the joint.
• Grating. Grating or grinding, called crepitus, may be felt or heard when using the joint.

How is Osteoarthritis Diagnosed?

There is no specific test to diagnose osteoarthritis. Physicians typically use a combination of methods to diagnose the condition, including:

• Taking a detailed medical history looking at specific symptoms.
• Performing a complete physical exam.
• Laboratory tests may be used to rule out other conditions.
• X-rays can help track the status of osteoarthritis; however, they may be normal in the early stages of the disease.
• Other imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be used to identify damage not seen on x-ray.

How is Osteoarthritis Treated?

There is no cure for osteoarthritis. Treatment is centered around managing pain and improving overall function of the affected joint(s). Ideally, patients receive a combination of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment.

Pharmacologic options include:

• Acetaminophen
• Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents (NSAID’s)
• COX-2 Inhibitors
• Newly approved medications like Duloxotine
• Narcotic pain medication

Non-pharmacologic interventions include:

• Heat and cold therapy
• Weight loss
• Exercise
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Interventional procedures and nerve blocks