Osteoarthritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Disease Insights: osteoarthritis

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Welcome to the ultimate guide on osteoarthritis. Here, you'll find answers to the most common questions to help you or your loved ones understand and manage this condition better.

Description for osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint disease causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.

General Information on osteoarthritis

Cause: This type of arthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones deteriorates over time. Osteoarthritis in the wrist is uncommon and usually occurs only in people who have injured that wrist in the past.

Cure: Pain relief medications, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, assistive devices, joint injections, surgery (in severe cases).

Symptoms:

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

decreased range of motion, joint pain, stiffness, swelling, tenderness

Precautions for osteoarthritis

Engage in physical therapy, Take pain relief medications as pr, Maintain a healthy weight, Avoid overexerting the affected j

Questions Covered:

what is osteoarthritis?
What are the usual symptoms of osteoarthritis?
causes of osteoarthritis?
How do doctors usually figure out if someone has osteoarthritis, diagnosis?
What are the possible complications that could arise from osteoarthritis?
What are the potential risk factors associated with osteoarthritis?

Answers:

Question: what is osteoarthritis?

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that may affect one joint or multiple joints. The symptoms of arthritis usually develop over time, but they may also appear suddenly.
There are more than
100 different types of arthritis, with different causes and treatment methods.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis
in the United States. Other common types
include:
The typical age for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is between ages 30 and 50. It can, however, affect children, teens, and younger adults.
Osteoarthritis (OA) commonly develops after the age 50 or 60 years, but there are studies that reveal radiographic evidence of OA occurring in women in their 40s. It also tends to be more prevalent in individuals who are overweight.
Join others who understand what you're going through, and discover a safe space for community, guidance, and support to manage PsA symptoms together.

Question: What are the usual symptoms of osteoarthritis?

Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are the most common symptoms
of arthritis. Your symptoms may also feel worse in the morning when you get out of bed or upon standing up after you've been resting.
Other symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
limited range of motion that sometimes goes away after movement
clicking or popping with bending
muscle weakness around the joint
instability or buckling of the joint
bony growths in the fingers
grating or scraping feeling in the knees
Other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
morning stiffness that can last 30 minutes or more
more than one affected joint
onset in smaller joints like feet and hands
same joints on both sides of the body are affected
fatigue
low-grade fever
inflammation of the eyes and mouth
inflammation of the heart muscle and blood vessels
low red blood cell count

Question: causes of osteoarthritis?

Arthritis may be caused by
:
wear and tear of a joint from overuse
age (OA is most common in adults over age 50)
injuries
obesity
autoimmune disorders
genes or family history
muscle weakness
Osteoarthritis
Normal wear and tear causes OA, one of the most common forms of arthritis. An infection or injury to the joints can exacerbate this natural breakdown of cartilage tissue.
Cartilage is a firm but flexible connective tissue in your joints. It protects the joints by absorbing the pressure and shock created when you move and put stress on them. A reduction in the normal amount of this cartilage tissue causes some forms of arthritis.
Your risk of developing OA may
also be higher if you have a family history of the disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Another common form of arthritis, RA, is an autoimmune disorder. It occurs when your body's immune system attacks the tissues of the body, resulting in inflammation to joints as well as other body organs.
In the joints, this inflammatory response affects the synovium, a soft tissue in your joints that produces a fluid that nourishes the cartilage and lubricates the joints, eventually destroying both bone and cartilage inside the joint.
The exact cause of the immune system's attacks is unknown. But scientists have discovered genetic markers that increase your risk of developing RA fivefold.

Question: How do doctors usually figure out if someone has osteoarthritis, diagnosis?

Seeing your primary care physician is a good first step if you're unsure who to see for an arthritis diagnosis. They will perform a physical exam to check for fluid around the joints, warm or red joints, and document the range of motion in the joints. Your doctor can refer you to a specialist if needed.
If you're experiencing severe symptoms, you may choose to schedule an appointment with a rheumatologist first. This may lead to a faster diagnosis and treatment.
Documenting inflammation levels in your blood and aspirating and analyzing joint fluids, if present, can help your doctor determine what kind of arthritis you have.
Blood tests that check for specific types of antibodies like anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and antinuclear antibody (ANA) are also common diagnostic tests.
Doctors commonly use imaging scans such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scans to produce an image of your bones and cartilage. This helps them rule out other causes of your symptoms, such as bone spurs.
If you need help finding a primary care doctor, then check out our FindCare tool here.

Question: What are the possible complications that could arise from osteoarthritis?

When left untreated, symptoms of arthritis may worsen and affect your day-to-day life. Below are some of the possible complications associated with this condition:
Reduced mobility. As arthritis progresses, you may experience less comfortable movement. This can interfere with your daily routine and may keep you from your favorite activities as well as socializing.
Possible weight gain. This is attributed to decreased movements, as well as discomfort that keeps you from exercising.
Increased risk of metabolic disorders. Being overweight with an inflammatory condition like arthritis may increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
Inflammation in other areas of your body. If your arthritis is attributed to an autoimmune disease like with RA, the inflammation can spread and affect your skin, eyes, blood vessels, and lungs.
Risk of falls. According to the Arthritis Foundation, people with OA are more likely to experience falls and possible fractures. This is primarily caused by related muscle weakness, but dizziness from pain medications can also lead to falls.
Decreased ability to work. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 60 percent
of people with arthritis are working age. Arthritis may affect your ability to move around in the workplace or even get from your mode of transportation to your job site.
Effects on mental health. Arthritis may increase the risk of anxiety and depression due to ongoing pain, inflammation, and social isolation.
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Question: What are the potential risk factors associated with osteoarthritis?

The overall risk factors for arthritis
include:
Obesity. Particularly associated with OA, being overweight puts added stress on weight-bearing joints in the body, such as your knees and hips. Losing excess weight can help reduce your risk of developing arthritis, and it may also help if you already have the condition.
Age and gender. The risk of developing arthritis increases with age. Also, women are more likely
than men to develop most forms of arthritis. The exception is gout, which is more prominent in men.
Overuse injuries. Repetitive stress injuries incurred during exercise, your job, or other activities may increase your risk of developing OA in the affected joint(s) later in life.
Your genes. A family history of autoimmune diseases as well as certain inherited genes may increase your risk of RA and other related types of arthritis.
Smoking. Your risk of developing RA may increase if you smoke
, and smoking can in turn make this autoimmune disease worse.

Useful Articles on osteoarthritis

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Conclusion & Takeaways

Learning about osteoarthritis is the first step toward taking control of your health. By understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatments, you empower yourself to make informed decisions. Remember to consult healthcare professionals for personalized advice and support.