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Osteoarthritis SymptomsOsteoarthritis affects predominately joint cartilage, the smooth glistening surface that lines the bone within the joint. The function of the cartilage is to provide shock absorbency and reduce friction as the joint glides. Osteoarthritis produces thinning and damage to the cartilage, which will break down and become rough and eroded. Inflammation results in the development of bony ridges and spurs, which may progressively enlarge. Cartilage and bone are further damaged as the bones rub together and deformity results when one side of the joint collapses more than the other side. When the cartilage loss is great, there may be severe pain in the involved joint - with use or even at rest. Osteoarthritis Symptoms come more likely with age.Osteoarthritis is the primary example of degenerative arthritis. It affects approximately 20 million people in the United States. The condition affects both men and women and occurs primarily in individuals over 40 years of age. Osteoarthritis most frequently occurs in the knees, hips, ankles, hands and other weight- bearing joints. Causes of Osteoarthritis SymptomsThere are either primary or secondary causes of osteoarthritis. Primary osteoarthritis is commonly linked to old age when the cartilage naturally breaks down due to wear and tear of the joint. Trauma to a joint such as in an accident it another primary cause. Physical conditions, such as congenital defects and obesity cause secondary osteoarthritis. Risk factors of osteoarthritis include:
Osteoarthritis SymptomsSymptoms vary from person to person even though each person suffering from osteoarthritis has joint deterioration. It is usually thought of as a progressive disease, one that gets worse over time. Some people find the condition incapacitating while others have very few symptoms. Pain, the primary symptom of the disease, is commonly brought on through activity; however, it could be present even when the body is at rest. Examples of Osteoarthritis Symptoms include:
Osteoarthritis Symptoms of the knee, the actual appearance of the knee may change over time. Some people may become knock-kneed or bow- legged. If you don't move the affected joint, muscles surrounding the joint will become weaker and sometimes shrink. Osteoarthritis Symptoms of the hip, the pain may cause you to limp. Also, you may feel pain around the groin or inner thigh. The affected leg may appear shorter in cases of osteoarthritis of the hip. Putting on your shoes and tying the laces become difficult. Osteoarthritis Symptoms in the fingers, the breakdown of cartilage causes bone spurs in these joints. Spurs in the end joints of fingers are called Heberden's nodes, which occur most often in women and sometimes as early as 40. Spurs in the middle joints of the fingers are called Bouchard's nodes. Your doctor will determine what type of arthritis you have. He or she will ask you about your symptoms and any related illnesses and it will be important for you to tell the physician about where, when and how long you have had pain, whether there is any swelling or redness in the involved joints and if there is any history of arthritis in your family. The doctor will perform a careful examination of your joints to determine if there is any swelling, redness, tenderness or loss of motion. x-rays will allow the doctor to see inside your joints and determine if there has been any destruction of cartilage with narrowing of the normal joint space or wear and tear on the bones. Blood tests may also be of value in differentiating rheumatoid arthritis from osteoarthritis and other types of arthritis. Regardless of the type of arthritis that a person has, many patients will experience some difficulty functioning at home, at work or at play because of joint pain, stiffness, and loss of motion. Arising from bed in the morning, buttoning buttons, writing, sewing, meal preparation, dressing, sleeping, walking, climbing stairs, arising from a chair or a toilet seat, and attending to matters of personal hygiene may all be impaired to some degree by arthritis. Oftentimes, impairment of function is more distressing to patients than the pain of arthritis and a major goal of all arthritis treatment is the preservation or improvement of function. |