Osteoarthritis

What is osteoarthritis?

Arthritis is a general description for more than than 100 different conditions causing joint inflammation. Osteoarthritis is a specific form of arthritis and affects approximately 27 million men and women in the United States. This form of arthritis develops when the cartilage cushioning your bones where joints form wears away.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary, but often include:

• Joint pain during or after movement
• Stiffness, especially after weight gain or being inactive
• Swelling
• A grating sensation while using your joint
• Reduced range of motion and flexibility

You can also develop bone spurs, which are hard lumps of extra bone, around your problem joint.

What causes osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is often associated with aging and wear and tear on your joints. Other factors that increase your chances of having osteoarthritis include:

• Being a woman, overweight, or obese
• Having a joint injury or a family history of the condition
• Putting repeated stress on a joint

Your risks of developing osteoarthritis also increase if you have malformed joints, defective cartilage, or metabolic diseases like diabetes.

How do you diagnose osteoarthritis?

There are several forms of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is the most common. To diagnose osteoarthritis, your provider performs a comprehensive physical examination that includes checking your joints for signs of swelling, tenderness, redness, and limited range of motion.

They might also order digital imaging tests, like X-rays to look for signs of cartilage loss between your bones or MRIs to check for structural issues associated with your bone, cartilage, and soft tissue. Memorial Orthopaedic Surgical Group offers these screenings on-site for your convenience.

Additional tests for osteoarthritis might include blood tests to rule out underlying conditions or causes of joint pain, like rheumatoid arthritis, or joint fluid analysis to look for signs of infection or gout.

How do you treat osteoarthritis?

After reaching a diagnosis, your provider might recommend a variety of treatments based on the severity of your symptoms and range of motion.

Common treatments for osteoarthritis include:

• Medications like pain relievers

• Physical therapy
• Cortisone injections
• Regenerative therapies, like PRP

For severe joint damage, your doctor might recommend surgery to replace your joint.

To learn more about osteoarthritis, call Memorial Orthopaedic Surgical Group or schedule an appointment online today.