| Osteoarthritis is caused by the degeneration of the | | | | joint pain and stiffness. He or she may also do a |
| cartilage between the joints of the body. Cartilage is | | | | general check-up to see about your overall health and |
| a hard, slippery tissue between the joints that allows | | | | to see if you have any symptoms of other diseases |
| the bones to glide over each other without actually | | | | that could be causing the joint pain. Your doctor will |
| touching. Osteoarthritis usually affects older people, | | | | also examine the specific joints that are bothering |
| but anyone can have this disease, especially if there | | | | you. If your doctor rules out any other disease that |
| has been excessive trauma or use of the joint. This | | | | could cause joint pain, you may also receive an X-ray |
| disease can affect any joint in the body but the | | | | of the affected joint. This is to examine the cartilage |
| most commonly affected are the knees, hips, fingers | | | | and see if there is any wear or damage. If you have |
| and back. | | | | osteoarthritis, your doctor may schedule you for |
| You may be wondering what causes osteoarthritis | | | | multiple x-rays over a length of time to see how the |
| and what you can do to prevent it. While the exact | | | | disease progresses. Another test that your doctor |
| cause isn't clear, many researchers agree that a main | | | | may use to diagnose osteoarthritis is joint aspiration. |
| factor in developing osteoarthritis is aging and joint | | | | In joint aspiration, your doctor inserts a needle in the |
| use. Approximately 70 percent of the population | | | | space between your joint and withdraws a small |
| aged 75 and over are affected by osteoarthritis. | | | | amount of fluid. This fluid is then examined under a |
| Other risk factors include being overweight, muscle | | | | microscope for white blood cells. If the count is |
| weakness and a family history of osteoarthritis. | | | | below 500 cells per square millimeter (mm²), |
| Some scientists think there may be a mechanical | | | | osteoarthritis is diagnosed. |
| cause for osteoarthritis. The cartilage between your | | | | There is no cure for osteoarthritis currently. |
| bones releases certain chemicals that cause it to | | | | Treatment goals for people suffering from |
| breakdown and then rebuild on a regular basis. When | | | | osteoarthritis are to improve joint movement while |
| these chemicals become unbalanced, the cartilage | | | | decreasing joint pain and stiffness. This is usually |
| breaks down faster than it can rebuild itself. Scientists | | | | achieved by combining two or more treatment |
| are still unclear as to why these chemicals become | | | | strategies. If you only suffer from mild pain, an |
| unbalanced in the first place. | | | | over-the-counter pain medication, such as |
| A good way to prevent osteoarthritis from affecting | | | | acetaminophen or aspirin, may be best for your pain, |
| your knees and/or hips is to maintain a healthy | | | | while exercising will help with the stiffness. |
| weight. Another good preventive measure is | | | | Sometimes acetaminophen is not strong enough and |
| exercise. You don't have to become a marathon | | | | a prescription pain medication is required. Once you |
| runner, just get a moderate amount of exercise daily. | | | | start the prescription, you will have to see your |
| Too much exercise can actually increase your risk of | | | | doctor regularly because you will be on this pain |
| developing osteoarthritis. Exercise will also increase | | | | medication for an extended length of time and your |
| the strength of your muscles which will help keep | | | | doctor will be able to determine if you have any side |
| your joints properly aligned, thereby decreasing the | | | | effects and can switch prescriptions, if needed. |
| risk of osteoarthritis. Vitamin D has been linked to | | | | Another at-home treatment option for stiffness is to |
| osteoarthritis; a deficiency of this key vitamin has | | | | use ice, heat on the joint, the heat will ease the |
| been shown to speed the development of this | | | | stiffness before exercising, and the ice will help |
| disease. | | | | reduce any swelling that may occur. |
| The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis are | | | | Some sufferers gain relief by having medication |
| joint stiffness after a period of rest, such as sitting | | | | injected directly into the joint. Losing weight can also |
| or sleeping and joint pain upon movement. The joint | | | | be considered a treatment for osteoarthritis because |
| pain may be constant during movement or only | | | | the excess weight puts extra strain on your joints, |
| happen when you move a certain way. Since | | | | which can cause the cartilage to wear out more |
| osteoarthritis worsens slowly, the pain may start as | | | | quickly. As a last resort, surgery can be considered |
| just an ache in the joints when you are in your 30s | | | | to replace knee or hip joints. This is only done when |
| or 40s. Many people consider this a sign of getting | | | | the joint has been severely damaged and does not |
| older and don't talk to their doctor about it. These | | | | respond well to other treatment options. There are |
| people don't bring it to their doctor's attention until | | | | three surgery options available, you and your doctor |
| they have more severe symptoms, such as swollen, | | | | will decide which one is best for you. The first |
| tender joints and a crunching sound or grinding feeling | | | | surgery is osteotomy, where bone growths are |
| when using the affected joint. An extreme symptom | | | | removed to help realign the joint. This is usually done |
| of osteoarthritis is deformed joints. This happens | | | | on the knee. The second option is arthrodesis, where |
| when the body tries to repair the cartilage and | | | | the doctors fuse the joint together. The final option |
| instead deposits calcium on the ends of the bone, | | | | is a total joint replacement. This procedure can be |
| causing the arthritis to worsen. | | | | done in almost any hospital. This type of surgery |
| There is no single test to determine if you have | | | | often brings improved function and pain relief. |
| osteoarthritis. Your doctor will talk to you about your | | | | |