Osteoarthritis,Common,Characte health Osteoarthritis

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Common Characteristics of OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis is essentially a "wear-and-tear" disorder. Intypical cases, symptoms appear after the age of 50, and usually in thelarge joints that bear the most weight--the hips, knees, shoulders andspine.Pain and stiffness are at their most uncomfortable upon arisingin the morning and are likely to be intensified during damp, coldweather. (This does not mean, however, that symptoms are likely todisappear in a warm, dry climate.) Redness and swelling of the affectedjoints may also occur. Joints, particularly in the fingers, may becomepermanently gnarled by osteoarthritis, but this almost never interfereswith their function. Painless bony bumps, known as Heberden's nodes,may also appear symmetrically on the fingers of both hands or on toejoints as well. Causes of OsteoarthritisWhen a person is young and spry, the joints between the bones swingfreely like efficient, well-oiled hinges. Stresses and strains areabsorbed by the cartilage pads that provide cushioning and lubricationat the ends of the bones where they constantly come together as theparts of the body make their coordinated movements.Over the years, these protective layers become eroded,lubricating fluids diminish and the result is a sensation oftendescribed as "creaking" at the joints. In addition to a decrease insmoothness of function, small growths, or spurs, may develop on thebones in the area of the joints. These are 10 times more prevalentamong women than among men and are likely to aggravate an alreadyuncomfortable condition. Signs and Symptoms of OsteoarthritisSince the weight-bearing joints are the ones most commonly affected,stiffness and discomfort in the knees and hips are likeliest to occurfirst, especially in the overweight person or in someone whose lifestyle involves long stretches of standing or walking. A visit to thedoctor for diagnosis normally includes close inspection of painfulareas as well as X-ray examination of the joints in question. (whenX-ray pictures are taken for diagnosis of some other condition inyounger patients, they usually reveal the beginnings of cartilageerosion in the weight-bearing joints at a stage that does not yetproduce associated symptoms.) Other than X-rays and visual examination,there are no other diagnostic tests for osteoarthritis. Treatment of OsteoarthritisWhere overweight exists as a contributing factor, efforts should bemade to lose the extra pounds and keep them off. Application of warm,moist heat, slow and gentle massage of the affected joints and areduction (not a total cessation) of normal activities are ways inwhich patients can help themselves when there is an intensification ofdiscomfort. Where pressure on the weight-bearing joints can bediminished through postural adjustments, special exercises may berecommended.Drug TherapyAlthough inflammation is not one of the initial symptoms ofosteoarthritis, as the joint degeneration progresses, swelling, rednessand other signs of inflammation may occur. When this happens,anti-inflammatory drug therapy may be recommended.Aspirin. Patients who can tolerate high doses of aspirin may betreated with this drug alone. However, patients on anti-inflammatoryaspirin therapy, which may involve taking 16 or more tablets a day,should be aware of possible side effects, among which the most commonare ringing in the ears, heartburn and other gastrointestinal upsets.To minimize gastrointestinal complications, the aspirin should bescheduled after meals. Acetaminophen, in smaller dosages, may berecommended as an alternative to aspirin.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. These are relatively newdrugs that relieve the pain and joint inflammation of osteoarthritis.It is the physician's role to match the patient with the particulardrug that will be most suitable and effective without adverse effects.Sometimes drugs are used in combination, but whatever the procedure,supervision by the doctor is usually indicated if maximum benefit is tobe achieved.Steroids. In those few cases where other measures fail, steroiddrugs (cortisone) may be injected into the damaged joint for temporaryrelief. However, long-term treatment with steroids is not recommendedfor osteoarthritis. SurgeryWhen an older person suffers such severe osteoarthritis that mostnormal activity becomes impossible, surgical replacement of theaffected joints may be considered. Hip replacement, in which the entirehip joint or head of the femur is replaced, is the most commonoperation of this type. The replacement joint is made of plastic andmetal parts and is held in place by special plastic cements. Theartificial joints allow the previously immobilized patient to berelieved of crippling pain, and most activities can be resumedfollowing physical therapy and regaining of muscle function.More recent joint replacements include the knee--a joint that ismore complicated than the hip and, consequently, poses more engineeringproblems in replacing. However, the newer artificial knee joints areproviding good results, both in terms of pain relief and restoration offunction. Traumatic ArthritisClosely related to osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis is usually theresult of excessive joint use combined with injury. It is commonly seenin athletes. Rest will usually resolve the problem, although in someinstances, drugs or surgery may be required, particularly in the caseof athletes who need to quickly regain the use of the injured joints.Summing UpFor millions of people, osteoarthritis is an inevitablecondition of aging. Most cases can be handled by rest and common sense.Anti-inflammatory drugs--both non-prescription painkillers such asaspirin or acetaminophen, or prescription non-steroidalanti-inflammatory agents--may be used during flare-ups.Osteoarthritis rarely turns into a crippling disease, but asnewer and more effective drugs are available for reducing aches andpains to a minimum, there is little reason for allowing this particularcause of physical discomfort to be a dominating factor in determiningone's life style in advancing years. Article Tags: Affected Joints, Weight-bearing Joints