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Quick guide to Osteoarthritis

 


Osteoarthritis:

Millions of people suffer from osteoarthritis. Any joint in the body can have osteoarthritis. Weight-bearing joints are usually affected .i.e. knee, and hip joint. Our joints are covered by smooth and lubricious tissue called cartilage that helps the bone to move freely against each other. Wearing and tearing occurs in cartilage during osteoarthritis. When the cartilage breaks, the bones in the joint come closer and rub together which causes pain, and stiffness. Old people are prone to it but an adult can also suffer from this disease.

 

Symptoms: 


·         The prime symptoms are pain and stiffness in the joint.

·         Pain worsens with the movement of joints.

·         Swelling occurs occasionally around the joint.

·         The muscle may be wasted around the joint

·         The crackling sound produced when the joint is moved

 


Causes:

 

Aging:


Aging is the prime cause of osteoarthritis. Over time joint damage and more wear and tear occur on the joint which increases the risk of osteoarthritis.

Overweight:


Being overweight or obese put pressure on weight-bearing joints .i.e. knee and hip joint. This pressure increases the risk of OA.  Fatty tissue can make protein which can produce harmful inflammation around the joint.

Joint Injury:


Sportsmen suffer usually from joint injury. Previous traumatic injury or any joint injury increases the risk of OA.

Genetics:

Some people inherit defective genes from parents which are responsible for making cartilage.

Metabolic disorder:

People with diabetes and other hormone disorder show the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

 

 

Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis:

The doctor diagnoses the OA by examining the patient's symptoms, taking the physical exam, performing lab and imaging tests.

 

Physical Exam:


A doctor will check whether the joint has tenderness, swelling, redness, and flexibility.

Lab Test:


During lab tests, blood and joint fluid are analyzed to confirm the diagnosis. A blood test is not required for OA, however, it can help to find rheumatoid arthritis.

Imaging Test:

The doctor may recommend X-ray and MRI to confirm the diagnosis.

X-ray:

 x-ray reveals loss of cartilage by checking the reduced space between bones in the joint and bone spur formation.

MRI:

if a diagnosis is not confirmed through an x-ray then the doctor may recommend for MRI. MRI gives more information with a better look at the joint.

 

Treatment of osteoarthritis:

Osteoarthritis can not be cured but its symptoms can be maintained by:

Physical activity

Strengthening exercise recommended by the physiotherapist

Range of motion exercises

Resistance exercise

Aerobic exercise

Occupational therapy

Applying TENS on affected joint

Certain medicines are used .i.e. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs.

 

 

Difference Between Rheumatoid arthritis & Osteoarthritis:

The symptoms between these two are the same but they both are different conditions. OA is a degenerative and chronic disorder of joint cartilage. on the other hand, RA is an autoimmune disorder that means the body's immune system attack the joint.

 

This article precisely covers Osteoarthritis.  We have done a discussion about the OA and their symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and their difference with Rheumatoid arthritis. We have discussed in such a way that any student in the medical field can easily understand osteoarthritis.  


 

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