OSTEOARTHRITIS - RESOURCE CENTRE

"I don't deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either."

Jack Benny

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, occurring in up to about 10% of adults, with as many as 50% of the elderly suffering from it. It is basically a degenerative form of arthritis, in which the cartilage, whose function is to cushion the joints, gets worn out with age.

This “wear-and-tear” of the cartilage over time, results in the bone surfaces becoming less protected and increases friction between the bones during movement. This friction eventually results in pain, swelling and loss of mobility. In more advanced stages, the joint loses its normal shape and bony spurs may grow on the edges of the joint. Bits of bone or cartilage may break off and float inside the joint space, further causing pain and loss of mobility.

OSTEOARTHRITIS - CAUSES

The cause is multi-factorial, but the following would increase your risk:

• Being overweight

• Getting older

• Previous injury to the joint

• Mechanical stresses on the joint from high impact sports, certain jobs, pathological or congenital    mal-alignment of bones

OSTEOARTHRITIS - SYMPTOMS

Symptoms in the initial stages may include pain, tenderness, stiffness, creaking and locking of the affected joint. As the arthritis progresses, there may be swelling of the joint due to collection of synovial fluid within the joint. In the more advanced stages, there is bony deformity (caused by bony spurs) and mal-alignment of the limb (eg. “varus” deformity of the knee). Patients experience increasing pain upon weight bearing, thus limiting walking, and ultimately, even standing.

Osteoarthritis commonly affects the hands, feet, spine and weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. In the smaller joints, such as in the fingers, hard bony swellings called Heberden's nodes and Bouchard's nodes may form. These are typically not painful, but they do limit joint movement.

OSTEOARTHRITIS - DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis can often be made by your doctor with reasonable certainty by a thorough physical examination. X-rays are used to confirm the diagnosis as well as to document progressive X-ray changes (thinning of cartilage, bony spurs, loose bodies, mal-alignment of joint etc) as the condition progresses.

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