Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one types of arthritis commonly heard amongst aged population, especially female over age of 55 years old. Osteoarthritis is abbreviated as OA or referred to as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD). Among the over 100 different types of arthritis conditions, osteoarthritis is the most common happen condition.

Cartilage is a connector between the bones and the joints that serves as a "cushion". Arthritis always caused by tear down and eventual loss of the cartilage of joints. Osteoarthritis commonly affects the hands, feet, spine, and large weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees.

Primary osteoarthritis is mostly a result of natural aging of the joint. When we are getting older, the fluid compound of the cartilage will increases, and the protein substance makeup of cartilage will degenerates. Gradually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking. In advanced osteoarthritis, cartilage cushion between the bones and the joints will totally loss. Joint pain will gradually appear and become obvious over repetitive use of the worn joints for our daily activities.



Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis vary from patient to patient. Osteoarthritis of the knees always linked to obesity or excess upper body weight, or has history of injury or joint surgery. Bowlegged is a osteoarthritis condition cause by progressive cartilage degeneration of the knee joints that lead to deformity and outward curvature of the knees.

People with osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints such as the knees can develop a limp. The limping condition can go worsen over the time as more cartilage degenerates. Medicine and some common treatments may not curable for some patients regarding to the joint pain and limping. Severe osteoarthritis of the knees is one of the most common reasons for knee replacement surgical.

There is no way to use blood test for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis. However blood test can be performed to exclude diseases that can cause secondary osteoarthritis, as well as to exclude other arthritis conditions that look similar to osteoarthritis.

X-rays of the affected joints can be used to diagnose osteoarthritis. The common X-ray findings of osteoarthritis include loss of joint cartilage, narrowing of the joint space between adjacent bones, and bone spur formation.

Weight reduction cause by obesity that put on excessive weight on joint is important for the treatment. Intense activities that put excessive stress on the joint cartilage should avoid. There are no specific treatments to halt cartilage degeneration or to repair damaged cartilage in osteoarthritis. The goal of treatment in osteoarthritis is to reduce joint pain and inflammation while improving and maintaining joint function. Physical therapy and mechanical support devices such as knee braces can relief the condition.