Osteoarthritis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis
A general word that implies inflammation of the joints is arthritis. The most common form of arthritis is Osteoarthritis, generally known as wear and tear arthritis. It is associated with cartilage breakdown in joints and can occur in nearly every joint in the body. It typically occurs in the joints of the elbows, knees, and spine that hold weight. Even the fingers, thumb, range, and big toe are also affected by it.
Unless previous damage, undue stress, or an underlying cartilage disease is involved, Osteoarthritis — also called OA — typically does not impact other joints.
Cartilage is a firm, rubbery substance that, in normal joints, covers the ends of bones. Its primary purpose is to decrease joint pressure and act as a “shock absorber.” Normal cartilage’s shock-absorbing quality comes from its capacity to change shape when compressed (flattened or pressed together).
Osteoarthritis causes stiffness and loss of elasticity of the cartilage in a joint, making it more susceptible to injury. Over time, in some cases, the cartilage can wear away, significantly reducing its ability to act as a shock absorber. Tendons and ligaments stretch, causing pain as the cartilage deteriorates. The bones might rub against each other if the condition worsens.
Who Gets Osteoarthritis?
With age, this risk increases to a level, most individuals over the age of 60 have Osteoarthritis, although the severity varies.
Though there is always an underlying reason, such as a joint fracture or excessive joint stress from overuse, even individuals in their 20s and 30s may get Osteoarthritis. More women than men have Osteoarthritis in individuals over 50 years of age.
What Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a condition isolated from the joints’ cartilage. Osteoarthritis does not affect other body organs, unlike many different types of arthritis that are systemic disorders Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus, for example.
Pain in the affected joint(s) after repeated use is the most common symptom of Osteoarthritis. It may lead to:
- Ankle Pain
- Foot Pain
- Pain in the hip
- Finger joint Pain
- Pain in the shoulder with loss of movement range and work
- Wrist Pain
Afterward in the day, joint pain from Osteoarthritis is usually worse. There should be here:
- The affected joints creak.
- swelling
- warmth
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Several variables increase the chances of a person developing Osteoarthritis. They include:
Injury:
Injuries contribute to osteoarthritis growth. For example, athletes who have knee-related injuries may have a higher chance of developing knee osteoarthritis.
Furthermore, individuals who have had a severe back injury may be predisposed to developing spine osteoarthritis. People who have a fractured bone near a joint in that joint are vulnerable to developing Osteoarthritis.
Joint overuse:
The risk of developing Osteoarthritis is increased by overuse of some joints. People in jobs that involve frequent bending of the knee, for example, are at an elevated risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.
Heredity:
In one of the genes responsible for producing cartilage, some individuals have an inherited deficiency. It causes faulty cartilage, which leads to more rapid joint degradation.
People born with joint defects are more likely to develop Osteoarthritis, and Osteoarthritis of the spine is more likely to develop in those born with spine abnormality.
Obesity:
Obesity raises the risk of knee, hip, and spine osteoarthritis. However maintaining the ideal weight or losing excess weight can help prevent or decrease Osteoarthritis progression in these areas once Osteoarthritis is developed.
Risk factors of Osteoarthritis
Factors that can raise the osteoarthritis risk include the following:
Joint injuries:
Injuries may raise the risk of Osteoarthritis, such as that occur while playing sports or because of an accident. Also, wounds that occurred and seemingly healed several years ago can increase your osteoarthritis risk.
Certain metabolic diseases:
That includes diabetes and a case in which there is too much iron in your body (hemochromatosis).
Repeated stress on the joint:
If your work or a sport you play places repetitive stress on a joint, Osteoarthritis will eventually develop in that joint.
How Is Osteoarthritis Diagnosed?
An osteoarthritis diagnosis is based on a combination of the following factors:
- X-rays
- Your symptom explanation
- Physical exam
- The position and the pain pattern
To help confirm the diagnosis, your doctor can use X-rays to make sure you don’t have another form of arthritis. X-rays indicate how much damage to the joint occurred. To get a closer look at the joint and underlying tissues, an MRI might be appropriate if the X-ray results do not point to arthritis or another disease.
Often, to decide whether you have a specific form of arthritis, blood tests are carried out. Your doctor can remove some of the fluid (called joint aspiration) for examination under a microscope to rule out other illnesses if the fluid has accumulated in the joints.
How Is Osteoarthritis Treated?
The damage of the cartilage causes Osteoarthritis (OA). That leads to
symptoms such as:
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Rigidity
It will depend on your symptoms to get the best OA treatment. At the time of diagnosis, it will also depend on your requirements and the severity of Osteoarthritis.
Most doctors start OA treatment with easy options that are noninvasive.
“Noninvasive” means that the procedure does not require something injected into the body.
A variety typically treats Osteoarthritis of procedures, including exercise, weight loss if necessary, drugs, physical therapy with muscle strengthening exercises, uncomfortable joint hot and cold condenses, reduction of joint fluid, injection into the joint of medications. And the use of supportive devices such as blood thinners or canes.
Where other treatment options have not been successful, surgery can be helpful to relieve pain. Many factors will depend on the type of care, including your age, activities and occupation, general health, medical history, osteoarthritis location, and seriousness disorder.
However, if you can not treat your symptoms with lifestyle changes and medication, you may need more intensive treatment. Surgery (invasive treatment) may be the only way for some people to treat extreme OA symptoms.
And better treatment is the essential option for your disease. If you are thinking of taking better medicine with a valuable diagnosis for your Osteoarthritis, then you should go to visit a Rheumatologist in Jaipur.
Conclusion:
Why Choose Dr. Bhupendra Vaishnav for Osteoarthritis Treatment in Jaipur?
Thus, a variety of options for treatment are open. To fight OA, losing weight and exercising are as well as healthy. It’s important to remember that these devices do not treat the root causes of pain, but they help relieve your symptoms. In fact, speak to the doctor and remember to remain aware and active. However, a physical therapist will offer muscle strengthening exercises and stretches and increase your range of motion.
Also, the nine-year-old experienced and skilled Dr. Bhupendra Vaishnav has treated thousands of patients in the same way. Isn’t it surprising? And the most crucial thing about Rheumatologists in Jaipur is you can frequently asking your question regarding your disease. Also, Dr. Bhupendra Vaishnav provides the best Osteoarthritis Treatment in Jaipur who had researched in rheumatology. Get painless treatment and proper diagnosis suggestions from Dr. Bhupendra Vaishnav. If you are interested in visiting and discuss diseases too quickly, then take an online appointment. Call to Rheumatologists, and book your appointment.