“Do you suffer from Osteoarthritis? Here’s how to tell!”
By Nathan Wei
The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA). This
type of arthritis is commonly referred to as wear and tear arthritis or degenerative
arthritis.”
While this condition probably begins in the early teen years,
it does not become symptomatic until a person reaches their 40’s.
Osteoarthritis affects cartilage, the slippery elastic tissue
that covers the ends of long bones. Cartilage functions to absorb shock from
movement and also to provide a gliding surface for the joints. With OA, the
cartilage begins to wear away and the underlying bones begin to rub against
each other. This leads to pain.
As OS progresses, it causes swelling and loss of motion. Bone
spurs develop and the joint starts to deform. Microscopic particles of cartilage
and bone flake off and cause irritation of the joint lining leading to more
inflammation which leads to pain and more damage.
Symptoms of OA include pain or stiffness in a joint particularly
after getting out of bed or after sitting for a prolonged period of time. Some
people have “flares” of their symptoms with weather changes. Stiffness and pain
in the joints with movement may occur as may “crunchiness”.
Some people report no symptoms. One study done at the National
Institutes of Health showed that one third of patients with osteoarthritis on
x-ray had no symptoms.
While any joint may be affected, the most common areas of involvement
are weight-bearing parts of the skeleton such as the neck, low back, hips, and
knees. The great toe and the base of the thumb are also common locations. In
older women the last row of finger joints and the next to last row of finger
joints may be affected. Less common sites are the shoulders, elbows, ankles,
and jaws.
Many factors including the way people use their joints. Occupational
experiences also play a role. For instance, miners and dockworkers may develop
knee OA while farmers have a higher incidence of OA of the hip. Ballet dancers
can also develop OA in the feet, ankles, and hips. Athletes also fall into a
high risk category with women soccer players being more likely to develop knee
OA as a result of prior injury. Other athletic activities which cause joint
trauma also can be a trigger for the development of OA.
Obesity is a major risk factor for OA of the hips and knees.
The famous Framingham study showed that obese women had the most severe OA.
People with other types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis
or gout are at increased risk for developing OA also.
Probably the most significant risk factor is genetic. Patients
with a strong family history of OA are at high risk themselves for developing
OA. This is most likely a result of defects in cartilage metabolism which hastens
wear and tear.
Dr. Wei (pronounced “way”) is a board-certified rheumatologist
and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis
Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the
University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to
the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of
the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians.
For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com
