Osteoarthritis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Osteoarthritis, or OA, is the most common form of arthritis, which happens when your joints deteriorate due to wear and tear. This leads to pain and stiffness, especially in your hands, knees, hips and lower back. The symptoms of osteoarthritis can range from mild to severe and may eventually interfere with your ability to function normally every day. Here we'll go over symptoms of OA as well as risk factors, causes and treatment options available to manage this condition.

What Is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that causes the joints to wear away and become inflamed. It can happen on its own or it can be caused by other conditions such as obesity, diabetes, or age. There is no cure for osteoarthritis; however there are treatments that can help relieve symptoms of the disease. You can decrease your risk of developing osteoarthritis by staying at a healthy weight, maintaining a healthy diet with plenty of water intake per day, getting enough exercise throughout the week, being mindful of how you stand or sit in one place for long periods of time like at work.

How Common Is Osteoarthritis?

About more than 27 million Americans have knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis  is more common in females  than males. It is most often found in people between the ages of 45 to 54 years old.

Risk Factors for Developing Osteoarthritis

The primary risk factors for developing osteoarthritis are age, obesity, previous joint injury or surgery. For example, a person who injures their knee during an accident may be at risk for developing osteoarthritis in their knee in the future.

Signs and Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a disorder in which the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones gradually wears away. Over time, this can cause pain and swelling in your joints. The wear-and-tear process affects everyone differently. Some people have mild symptoms while others experience more severe pain or limited mobility. 

The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is joint  ach  that worsens with movement. You may also notice stiffness or a decrease in the range of motion of your joints.

Complications from Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is a progressive condition that starts with pain and stiffness in the joint. It can cause severe disability if it's not treated early. In severe cases, the joint may need to be replaced with an artificial one. There are many ways to treat the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis from managing your weight to using medications or surgery.

Diagnosing Knee Osteoarthritis by Exam and X-ray

. Examining the patient's knee can help with diagnosing OA. Doctors will typically look for fluid in the area around the joint or bony lumps on either side of it. X-rays can also be helpful for confirming OA by looking for bone spurs or narrowing of the joint space.

MRI Scans for Diagnosing Knee Osteoarthritis

MRI scans are often used to diagnose osteoarthritis of the knee. The MRI is a type of x-ray that allows doctors to see the bones in the body. In this case, it can show where there may be damage or a loss of cartilage in the joint. Usually an MRI scan will take between 30 minutes and one hour. Patients lie on their back while they are scanned with the machine moving around them; they must remain still during this time or risk blurring or damaging the images produced by the scanner. The patient is usually asked not to eat anything after midnight before an MRI scan so that stomach contents do not interfere with imaging results.

Treatment for Osteoarthritis

There are many different treatments for osteoarthritis. One of the most common ways is to use a topical cream or gel that has a low level of corticosteroids in it. This type of medication can be applied directly to the painful area in order to reduce inflammation. When using this method, it is important to read the instructions carefully so that you do not put too much on your skin which could cause other health problems. Another treatment option is the use of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen or aspirin. These medications work by blocking the effect of prostaglandins on your body which decrease inflammation.