Cause And Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis

In our last article, we briefly discussed Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  This article will take a close look at the cause, symptoms, and current treatment used for Osteoarthritis.  So let’s take a second look at what Osteoarthritis is.

Osteoarthritis is known by many as “wear and tear” Arthritis.  It is one of the most common forms of Arthritis and is the result of cartilage wearing away from the joints.  This cartilage is responsible for the smooth gliding of joints, and once it begins to deteriorate, the patient is left with pain, joint swelling and inflammation, and even deformity.

Osteoarthritis patients usually state that their pain is greatest during times of movement, and then lessens significantly during periods of rest.  Osteoarthritis affects many more women than men.  There is an estimated 24 million Osteoarthritis sufferers in the United States and roughly 74% are women.

The cause of Osteoarthritis is not known, yet doctors have many suspicions.  Some of the symptoms of Osteoarthritis boggle the minds of scientists and more research needs to take place to determine the actual root of the disease.  For instance, X-rays can tell that Arthritis is present, yet the amount of pain reported by Osteoarthritis sufferers differs from the results of the X-ray.  Though many people refer to Osteoarthritis as the “wear and tear” disease, evidence shows that this disease and its mysterious cause are not as simple as that definition.  In fact, “wear and tear” does not take place in just one joint, but affects joints simultaneously throughout the body.  An example of this, is that sufferers with Osteoarthritis of the knee, offer suffer Osteoarthritis in the hand.  Also, doctors have noted that patients don’t suffer with Osteoarthritis on just one side of the body (as would be expected due to wear and tear) but because it seems to affect the body concurrently, it appears that Osteoarthritis is a systematic disease affecting all of the cartilage at once.  

One suggestion is that Osteoarthritis is a result of cartilage that has stopped functioning at optimum level.  Cartilage is continuously undergoing a process where it is broken down, then rebuilt.  Some theories state that this process becomes unbalanced and out of hand.  This is referred to as “End Stage Osteoarthritis.”  It is at this stage that joint pain and impairment begin to manifest.  There are many natural remedies that show promise in the management of Osteoarthritis pain and symptoms.  Look for future articles in our Arthritis Series that will offer natural remedies that may prevent enzymes from damaging cartilage.  

Some other ideas that point to the cause of Osteoarthritis include:

·    Previous Sports related or Joint Injuries
·    Genetically Inherited (it appears that Osteoarthritis runs in families)
·    Repeated Occurrences of Bleeding into a Joint (as occurs with Hemophilia and other diseases)
·    Repeated Occurrences of Gout and Gout like Diseases
·    Avascular Necrosis- this is a condition where blood near a bone is cut off, this leads to bone death as well as joint damage.  Avascular Necrosis typically afflicts the hip joint.
·    Previous Rheumatoid Related Illness- such as Rheumatoid Arthritis can lead to chronic inflammation of the joints.
·    Osteoporosis-due to the high risk of bone fractures and injury, Osteoarthritis may develop in joints.
·    Metabolic Disorders- for example, Hemochromatosis can result in high levels of Iron being deposited in the joints
·    Joint Infection-It is believed that cartilage may deteriorate in people who have defects in their cartilage and joints.

We’ve discussed the potential causes of Osteoarthritis, now it is time to look at the various symptoms of Osteoarthritis.  The symptoms of Osteoarthritis include:

·    Joint Pain- this tends to be worse when rising in the morning
·    Joint Swelling and Inflammation- this occurs during periods of activity
·    Feeling a “Grinding” Sensation when a Joint is moved
·    Loss of Mobility and Flexibility

There is no sure way to prevent Arthritis in any of its forms.  There are however some things that you can do to help lower your risk of developing Osteoarthritis or any other type of Arthritis.  Some of the preventative methods that you may add to your lifestyle today include:

·    Maintain an Ideal Body Weight
·    Take steps to prevent the development of Osteoporosis.  Some of these include taking adequate Vitamin D and Calcium, exercising, and taking medication if needed.
·    Do your best to prevent injuring your bones and joints -try to avoid accidents such as sports related, implementing joint protection by using splints and braces.

About the Author

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7 Easy Knee Pain Remedies

After a long day on your feet, knee pain sufferers know that their knees are going to be killing them. When your knees are sore you want easy relief, you want to be able to feel it right away. There are several things you can do to get simple, no-fuss reprieve from knee pain. Don’t you wish there was a list of these knee pain remedies that you could easy reference when your knee joints are throbbing? Luckily for you, there is!

1. Give your knees plenty of rest. If you know that your knees are a touchy subject, avoid those activities that you know aggravate the pain. I know it may be hard to opt to sit out on a game of hoops with your buddies, but if you suspect it will cause more harm than good, sit it out this time. This requires actively listening to your body and its needs before your knees are hurting.
2. Invest in a better pair of shoes. Don’t underestimate the importance of a good pair of supportive sneakers. If you are always wearing the latest style of high heels to work, it may be contributing to your knee pain. I’m not suggesting a pair of frumpy nurse shoes necessarily, but don’t sacrifice comfort for style. There are several name-brand shoes that specialize in both.
3. Ice – The tried and true is still the best. Ice is a great remedy for knee pain. It provides comfort, or at least numbs and deadens pain, and it also helps reduce swelling. Keep several of those squishy blue reusable icepacks in your freezer for when your knee pain flares up. Wrap the icepack in a thin flannel or dishcloth so it is more comfortable against the skin.
4. Begin exercising on a cushioned surface. Instead of running on the street for exercise, consider an indoor track. Often, the indoor track will be made of rubber that will aid in cushioning your knee joints. If you like to walk, consider walking on the grass instead of the pavement.
5. Get some support. I don’t mean the emotional kind, although that couldn’t hurt. A good supportive knee brace can help alleviate knee pain. Be careful when selecting one that is supportive but not too tight. If the brace is too tight it may actually cause more damage by forcing the joint into an unnatural position.
6. Warm up and stretch. Both before exercise and before you go to sleep, warming the muscles with heat (as long as you are sure you don’t have any swelling) is a good way to relax knee pain and prevent injury. Stretching is an excellent way to promote flexibility and strength in your legs.
7. Take a pain reliever. You may assume I left the simplest for last, and you’d be right. An over-the-counter anti-inflammatory is an easy way to reduce your knee pain. Doctors recommend ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and swelling in joints. It’s usually gentle on the stomach in small doses, and recent studies indicate that it may be better for knee pain in the long term as well.

Now that you have this simple list of fuss-free knee pain remedies, get to it! Try a few from the list and see how well incorporating even just one or two of these ideas will help your pain disappear.

About the Author

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