Joint pain is more common in older patients who have OA
Osteoarthritis (also known as arthrosis): is a condition that affects your joints, leading to the gradual wearing down of the cartilage that normally cushions them.
This process can result in changes to the surrounding bone, causing discomfort and limiting your ability to move as freely as you once did.
While osteoarthritis can be frustrating, understanding the condition is an important first step in managing it. Some treatments can help reduce pain and improve your ability to stay active, even as you work to protect your joints from further wear and tear.
Common symptoms
Symptoms can vary from day to day, from person to person and also according to the grade of OA. They can often develop slowly over time, these symptoms can become more noticeable.
Stiffness
Grating sensation
Tenderness
Bone spurs
Pain
Loss of flexibility
Causes of OA
Age
OA prevalence increases with each decade of life
Sex
OA tends to affect women more frequently than men, particularly in the knee joints
Genetics
Family history may predispose individuals to OA may predispose individuals to OA
Exercise stress
Excessive sports, and conversely a lack of activity increases risk of OA
Joint injuries
Including sports trauma or accidents, can raise the risk of OA
Obesity
Excess body weight places added stress on weight-bearing joints
Metabolic disorders
Conditions like diabetes influence the progression of OA
Occupational stress
Certain jobs may predispose patients to developing OA- heavy jobs, bending/ squatting lifting particularly knee and hip OA
The impact of OA
Since everyone’s pain is unique, it’s important to take a personalised approach to treatment.
Addressing these different factors can;
- help reduce pain
- improve your mobility
- enhance your overall quality of life
Diagnosis
To help determine whether you have OA, a healthcare professional will ask about your symptoms and examine your joints.
They may suspect OA if:
- You’re aged 45 or older
- You have joint pain that gets worse the more you use your joints
- The stiffness in your joints is not there in the mornings, or lasts less than 30 minutes
An X-ray is often needed to confirm the diagnosis. The X-Ray can reveal key indicators of OA
- Prescence of bone growths (osteophytes)
- Narrowing of the joint space
Stages of OA
Grade 0
Pre OA
Grade 1: (Early)
- Good cartilage cover
- Occasional joint discomfort and stiffness
Grade 2: (Moderate)
- Notable wear of cartilage
- More consistent pain and stiffness
- Noticeable limitations in joint function
Grade 3: (Advanced)
- Little remaining cartilage
- chronic pain
- Significant loss of joint mobility, and potential joint deformities
Grade 4: (Surgical intervention)
- Debilitating pain, severe joint deformities
- No longer able to tolerate or manage symptoms
OA is not limited to the elderly – younger individuals with active lifestyles can also be affected
Current Treatment Options
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that often causes painful flare-ups. Treatment should, therefore, simultaneously manage the pain while slowing down joint degeneration.
Today, new treatments are available that can help
- Repair Cartilage
- Boost the body’s natural healing processes
- Effectively manage pain
Your healthcare professional will recommend the best treatment options for your OA based on the severity and location of your OA.
Examples of suggestions:
- Lifestyle changes
- Weight loss
- Low-impact aerobic exercises
- Diet
- Platelet-Rich Plasma injections
- Corticosteroids
- Analgesics
- Therapeutic Exercise
- Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Managing osteoarthritis effectively requires a tailored approach based on the severity of your symptoms. From non-pharmacological methods and medications to surgical options, each step is designed to:
The information on the website is for information purposes only and is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice. Ask your doctor for more information.