Osteoarthritis

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, which is the inflammation of joints caused by tissue injury, abnormal development, or overuse. The pain and discomfort of osteoarthritis usually occur in your joints and can sometimes be so severe that daily activities are difficult or impossible. Although there are no cures for this condition, treatment options do exist that can help ease the pain and prevent further damage to the joint and surrounding tissues.

5 key stages in osteoarthritis development

Osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by joint pain and stiffness. It occurs when joints in your body sustain too much wear and tear or when they’re weakened through injury. As your body ages, it becomes more susceptible to developing osteoarthritis, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with obesity or diabetes. 

Despite its prevalence as a degenerative disease in seniors, many young people develop osteoarthritis during their 30s or 40s. Take note of these five key stages: 1) Rheumatoid Arthritis; 2) Immune Response; 3) Inflammation & Injury; 4) Cartilage Damage & Cell Death; 5) Osteophyte Development (Bone Spurs).

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis symptoms are easy to spot if you know what to look for. As we age, achy joints can be blamed on anything from aging itself to injury or weight gain. However, they can also be a sign of osteoarthritis. This common form of arthritis that causes pain in your joints is especially prevalent in people over 65 years old—but younger people with certain risk factors may also develop it. 

Most cases of osteoarthritis affect weight-bearing joints like knees and hips, but it’s possible for any joint to be affected. Some other signs include Swelling around a joint – Swelling usually occurs after an activity, so it might not always be obvious when you first notice it. But swelling can make moving painful and difficult, which makes sense since inflammation is one of the main symptoms of osteoarthritis. 

In some cases, swelling might only occur during periods of rest, such as at night when you're sleeping. If swelling occurs mostly at night and goes away during the day without treatment, then it's probably not related to your condition. However, if the swelling lasts throughout most of your waking hours or gets worse over time despite treatment efforts then see your doctor right away because an infection could be present. If there's no infection present then treating inflammation will help relieve some discomfort caused by osteoarthritis.

Causes of Osteoarthritis

If you’re suffering from osteoarthritis (OA), you may want to know what’s causing your joint pain. The following are potential causes of OA: Rheumatoid arthritis – joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis is often similar to that caused by OA; however, RA can also affect other parts of your body, such as your eyes or lungs. 

Wear and tear – Our joints naturally deteriorate over time because of constant wear and tear. Faulty joint construction – If a particular joint is poorly constructed or is affected by genetic defects, it may develop OA during early adulthood or later in life. Obesity – Being overweight can place excess pressure on weight-bearing joints like those in your knees, hips, and lower back.

Progression in osteoarthritis development

Your first sign of osteoarthritis may come as a dull, but the consistent ache in your joints. You’ll likely feel stiffness or pain in your joints when you wake up in the morning or after you have been sitting for a long time. Over time, chronic inflammation from osteoarthritis can lead to more debilitating symptoms.

 Eventually, you may notice a change in your joint's ability to move. Osteoarthritis often progresses gradually; however, some individuals notice sudden signs of joint degeneration within days or weeks of an injury such as a fall or sports-related trauma. If left untreated, osteoarthritis can cause severe joint deformity and loss of mobility.

Treament for osteoarthritis

There is no cure for osteoarthritis. But there are many things you can do to manage your symptoms so that you can keep doing what you enjoy in life. The key is making sure your treatment plan addresses both joint health and muscle strength (your skeleton muscles).

 Here are some tips The best way to treat arthritis pain is with a combination of exercise, medication, and weight loss if needed. This will also help prevent further damage from happening. If you have knee or hip pain, start with exercises that strengthen your thigh muscles—these are important stabilizers for your joints. Try leg presses on a machine at a gym or squats with weights at home; repeat 10 times twice a day. Also, try calf raises while sitting on an exercise ball; repeat 10 times twice a day.

Can you prevent Osteoarthrtis?

Osteoarthrtis is a progressive degenerative disease that primarily affects joints. Common symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. OA is caused by wear-and-tear on your joints over time; it's more common as you age because your cartilage breaks down faster than it can be repaired. But there are some things you can do to prevent or reduce its effects (not that prevention alone will stop OA). Regular exercise, staying active and weight loss through healthy eating can help improve joint health. That's important because most people with OA are overweight or obese. Losing extra pounds also helps maintain healthy blood pressure.

Takeaway Points

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects millions of people in America alone. The symptoms and treatments are quite different between osteoarthritis from other types of arthritis, although there is one treatment in common—anti-inflammatory drugs. OA sufferers tend to experience pain during movement or at rest—often called morning joint stiffness—which can go away with exercise.

 However, these exercises should not be vigorous because they might cause further damage to joints affected by OA. Most cases of osteoarthritis can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes such as dieting but it’s important to see a doctor if your condition worsens or becomes symptomatic.