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Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 32.5 million adults in the United States. Osteoarthritis starts in the cartilage – or the cushioning – between the joints. As the cartilage starts to degrade, people experience stiffness, pain and swelling.
Sometimes people confuse osteoarthritis with rheumatoid arthritis, yet they are two very different conditions. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition which only effects joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that starts in the lining of the joints. The immune system causes the synovium – a thin layer of soft tissue lining the joints – to thicken and become inflamed. This inflammation leads to joint destruction, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. The inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis can also affect parts of the body.
Though osteoarthritis can’t be cured, there are steps people can take to alleviate and manage the symptoms of this painful condition.
Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, which is often referred to as wear-and-tear on the joints, most commonly affects the hands, knees, hips, neck and back. Risk factors include:
• Obesity. Increased weight adds pressure to the joints, elevating risk for osteoarthritis. People who are overweight may develop osteoarthritis in the knees and hips.
• Age. The chances of developing osteoarthritis increase with age, particularly affecting those over age 50.
• Genetics. Rare genetic defects can lead cartilage to degrade early in a small number of people.
• Post-traumatic joint injury. People can develop osteoarthritis decades after experiencing a sports injury or other accident. Those who regularly participate in sports should be cautious to prevent injuries.
• Malformed joints. Malformation or malposition of joints early on, even from birth, can lead to early onset osteoarthritis.
Symptoms and Treatment for Osteoarthritis
Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, swelling and stiffness. Everyone experiences these symptoms differently. Some people are more likely to feel pain while others may battle extreme stiffness.
The stiffness is most likely to occur after waking up in the morning, or after a period of inactivity, and last for up to 15 minutes (those with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to feel stiff for hours upon waking).
Patients with osteoarthritis sometimes hear a crunching or grinding sound when using the joint. They may also feel unstable, as if the knee is about to give out.
Exercise helps patients manage their symptoms. Low-impact exercise is best, such as walking, swimming, bike riding or using elliptical machines.
Those suffering from osteoarthritis should also experiment with applying heat and ice to the aching joint. Some patients prefer ice, which can numb the affected area and mitigate the pain. Other patients prefer heat, which increases blood flow and lessens stiffness. A warm bath or shower can be helpful.
Over-the-counter pain medications are okay too, such as acetaminophen or Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). [Patients should be careful using NSAIDS, especially if they have high blood pressure or a history of stomach ulcers. Check with your doctor first, and carefully read drug package inserts.]
Losing weight, if applicable, is another important way to alleviate pain from osteoarthritis, particularly in the hips and knees. Diets high in antioxidants may help.
If none of these measures alleviates pain, and if pain is negatively affecting quality of life, call your primary care physician. Many primary care physicians can prescribe medications that can be helpful or refer the patient to a physical therapist, who can work with patients on muscle-strengthening exercises.
Some primary care physicians administer cortisone injections in the joint to relieve pain, or you may need to see a rheumatologist, physical medicine specialist or orthopedist for this treatment. In more extreme cases, rheumatologists refer patients to orthopedic surgeons to consider joint replacement.
