What can make osteoarthritis worse?

Osteoarthritis – an overview:

Millions of individuals all around the world suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common form of the disease. This issue develops as the cartilage that cushions the bone ends wears away over time.

Although osteoarthritis can affect every joint in the body, it most commonly manifests in the joints of the hands, knees, hips, and spine.

While osteoarthritis can be managed medically, the joint damage that has already occurred cannot be reversed. Keeping active, keeping a healthy weight, and obtaining specific therapies may help improve pain and joint function and decrease the progression of the condition. It is impossible to overstate the importance of maintaining a healthy weight.

The following can include the most common osteoarthritis symptoms:

Symptoms of osteoarthritis frequently go slowly and steadily worsen over time. Osteoarthritis symptoms and signs include:

• Pain: Pain in the affected joints may be experienced either while moving or afterwards.
• Stiffness: In certain cases, stiffness in the joints is more apparent in the morning or after a period of inactivity.
• Tenderness: You may have some joint soreness when applying gentle pressure to the area.
• Loss of flexibility: Potentially limited motion in the joint.
• Grating sensation: As you smoke from the joint, you may get a grating sensation and hear some crackling or popping sounds.

Here are a few osteoarthritis causes that may be the culprit:

Damage to the cartilage that lines the ends of your bones in your joints is the root cause of osteoarthritis. Cartilage is a stiff, slippery tissue that allows for frictionless joint movement.

If the cartilage entirely wears away, the bones will begin to rub against one another.

Many people use the term “wear and tear disease” to describe osteoarthritis. However, the damage caused by osteoarthritis is not limited to the cartilage; rather, it affects the entire joint. Changes to the bone and a breakdown in the connective tissues (which normally hold joints together and bind muscle to bone) result. Joint lining irritation is also a result of this condition.

Risk factors that might increase the risk of osteoarthritis:

• Old age
• Sex
• Obesity
• Joint injuries
• Repetitive stress on the joint
• Genetics
• Deformities of bone

What happens if osteoarthritis is not treated?

Chronic pain is a common symptom of osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that worsens with time. Pain and stiffness in the joints can become so debilitating that even basic daily activities become a challenge.

The discomfort and immobility caused by osteoarthritis can lead to feelings of depression and disrupted sleep. Early diagnosis and treatment from a rheumatoid arthritis specialist in Coimbatore to avoid complications.

Who gets affected by osteoarthritis?

X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis can be found in around 80% of persons aged 55 and up. About 60% of those affected by this have some symptoms. About 240 million adults around the world suffer from osteoarthritis symptoms; this includes about 30 million Indian adults. Osteoarthritis of the knee is more common in postmenopausal women than in males.

The procedures that help the specialists identify the condition:

During the physical examination, your osteoarthritis doctor will assess your range of motion, flexibility, and soreness in the affected joint.

X-rays:

Although cartilage can’t be seen on an X-ray, its degeneration will cause the joint’s space to shrink, giving away the game. Joint bone spurs are also visible on an X-ray.

MRI Scan:

Radio waves and a powerful magnetic field are used in an MRI scanner to create clear pictures of hard and soft tissues like bone and cartilage. Although an MRI is usually unnecessary to make a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, it can be useful in more complicated situations.

Blood tests:

While there is currently no diagnostic blood test for osteoarthritis, other joint pain explanations, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can be ruled out.

Joint fluid analysis:

Your doctor may recommend removing fluid from the afflicted joint. This fluid is then analyzed to rule out osteoarthritis as the underlying cause of your discomfort and identify the inflammatory response.

The best treatment options that are available to treat osteoarthritis:

Physical therapy:

A physical therapist can help you with exercises to improve your flexibility, strengthen the muscles around your joints, and alleviate discomfort. It’s just as effective to engage in regular, low-intensity exercise on your own, like swimming or strolling. Seek help from a rheumatology hospital in case you have any signs of osteoarthritis.

Occupational therapy:

An occupational therapist can advise you on performing common tasks without aggravating your injured limb. If you suffer from osteoarthritis in your hands, using a toothbrush with a wider handle may be more comfortable. If you suffer from knee osteoarthritis, installing a bench in your shower may be able to assist ease the discomfort of standing for extended periods.

Realigning bones:

An osteotomy may be recommended if osteoarthritis disproportionately harms one side of your knee. An osteotomy of the knee involves a horizontal incision across the tibia or femur, followed by the removal or insertion of a wedge of bone. The weakened area of your knee will receive less pressure as a result.

Joint replacement:

Joint replacement surgery involves removing damaged joint surfaces and replacing them with artificial plastic and metal components. Infection and clotting are two potential complications of surgery. Artificial joints may require replacement once they have worn out or become loose.

Outlook of the condition:

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease for which there is now no treatment. In any case, the prognosis improves with osteoarthritis treatment.

Do not disregard signs of ongoing joint pain and stiffness. A better diagnosis, treatment, and overall quality of life can be achieved the sooner you talk to a doctor.