What is Osteoarthritis?
What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases, and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. The weak cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint. The most often affected are the joints of the fingers, the base of the thumb, hips, knees, neck (cervical spine), and the lower back (lumbar spine).

Symptoms

The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain in the affected joints after repetitive use. Symptoms of osteoarthritis vary greatly from patient to patient. Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

Pain
Tenderness
Stiffness
Loss of flexibility
Grating sensation
Bone spurs

Causes

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints deteriorates over time. The smooth surface of the cartilage becomes rough, causing irritation. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, you may be left with bone rubbing on bone causing the ends of your bones to become damaged and your joints to become painful. In most cases there are combination of factors, including:


The aging process
Joint injury or stress
Heredity
Muscle weakness
Obesity


In advanced cases, there is a total loss of cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints. Repetitive use of the worn joints over the years can irritate and inflame the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Loss of the cartilage cushion causes friction between the bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs, also referred to as osteophytes) to form around the joints.
Osteoarthritis occasionally can develop in multiple members of the same family, implying a hereditary (genetic) basis for this
condition.

Obesity causes osteoarthritis by increasing the mechanical stress on the cartilage. In fact, next to aging, obesity is the most powerful risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knees.


Western Medicine Treatment


Rest (relief from stress on joints)
Diet control with weight reduction
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Analgesics
Pain relievers
Physical Therapy
Surgery



Adopted from Wei Laboratories, Inc.