Osteoarthritis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis resulting from the breakdown and abrasion of joint tissue. The symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, and difficulty of movement.

Early diagnosis can increase the chances of successful treatment and reduce permanent damage. That is why it’s crucial to understand osteoarthritis.

In this article, we will learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatment options.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative arthritis often referred to as the wear and tear of the joints. But it’s more than just simple wear and tear.

As a result of osteoarthritis, joint tissues themselves go through changes, causing them to break down over time. This process can affect the protective cushion called cartilage, the tendons and ligaments, the lining of the joint, and even the bones. The results are joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.

The effects of osteoarthritis usually increase over time and can turn even simple everyday activities into painful struggles.

Types of osteoarthritis

We can distinguish between primary and secondary osteoarthritis. It’s called primary when the cause of the disease is unknown, and secondary when it’s caused by an underlying injury, disease, or infection.

Symptoms and signs of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a condition that worsens over time. We can break down the progression of the disease into different stages. Each stage has distinct symptoms and varying levels of impact on our everyday lives.

The first stage is called pre-osteoarthritis, where the disease is not apparent yet, but early cellular level changes can already be present. While this stage of the disease doesn’t show symptoms yet, diagnosis is possible using MRI technology.

Osteoarthritis then progresses to the early stage, where mild joint pain may occur, but the symptoms are still sparse. During this stage, the cartilage may start to wear down.

In the next stage, painful growths on the ends of the bones may appear, called bone spurs. The damage to the cartilage increases, causing the space between the joints to narrow. Symptoms of this stage may include stiffness and increased pain during joint movement.

The worsening disease can enter a moderate stage, where the cartilage and the bones can show visible signs of abrasion. Bone spurs may increase in size and get more painful. In this stage, the joint pain usually becomes more apparent with movement, and the joints get stiffer after periods of inactivity.

In the final stage of osteoarthritis, the cartilage of the joints has suffered severe damage. With most or all of the cushioning gone, the bones may rub against each other, causing intense pain. This stage of the disease can significantly affect our everyday lives, turning even the simplest activities into painful experiences. The symptoms may include swelling and inflammation of the joints as well.

Diagnosing osteoarthritis

Doctors can diagnose osteoarthritis using a combination of physical examination, imaging tests, and fluid analysis.

First, they will perform a physical exam and check the range of movement, flexibility, and signs of swelling or tenderness.

If they suspect arthritis, X-ray or MRI scans can reveal signs of cartilage loss and bone spurs.

During a joint aspiration test, they draw liquid directly from the joints to look for signs of inflammation and infections. A blood test can help rule out other forms of arthritis.

Diagnosing osteoarthritis in its early stages can provide a chance to slow down the progression of the disease and delay the more painful later stages.

Osteoarthritis causes

While osteoarthritis is commonly known as the wear and tear of the joints, it’s more than just simple abrasion. When you suffer from osteoarthritis, the tissues change on a cellular level. And while the overuse of the joint can accelerate the progression of the disease, osteoarthritis may occur even without it.

Some common risk factors may increase the chances of developing the disease and worsen the condition.

Some occupations and sports require repeated movement, which might lead to stress and overuse of the joints. This kind of stress, or other joint injuries, can increase the risks of faster development of the disease.

Age and sex can also contribute to osteoarthritis, as the risk increases with older age, and the disease is more common among women.

As with other forms of arthritis, obesity can be a risk factor because it increases the load and stress on the joints.

Osteoarthritis can develop from bone deformities or some metabolic diseases too. These are sometimes related to genetics and family history and sometimes caused by other medical conditions.

Osteoarthritis treatment

While osteoarthritis can’t be cured entirely, it’s possible to manage the symptoms and slow down or even stop the progression of the disease.

Treatment for osteoarthritis usually involves a combination of different methods.

Medications

The main goal of osteoarthritis medication is to reduce the pain and inflammation.

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, doctors may prescribe different kinds of medications. The most commonly used ones are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that often reduce both inflammation and pain. If you can’t take other forms of medicine, paracetamol painkillers might be recommended. For very intense pain, doctors might give you opioids, but usually only for a shorter period.

In some cases, when other forms of treatment don’t work well, steroid injections can offer relief.

Lifestyle changes

Some general lifestyle changes can decrease the risk of osteoarthritis or slow down the progression of an already-developed disease.

Regular exercise can help in multiple different ways. It strengthens the joints and the surrounding muscles, increasing durability and joint support. It can also help you lose weight and decrease the load and stress on the joints. When you have osteoarthritis, it’s best to consult your doctor about exercise plans, as high-impact movements like running might do more harm than good. Low-impact exercises like swimming or tai-chi might be better choices.

It is also worth considering changing your diet. As mentioned before, losing weight could be an essential lifestyle change to manage the disease, and a well-structured diet can help you with that. You might also want to avoid unhealthy food choices, such as meals high in fats, sugary drinks, and other inflammatory foods.

Surgery

Surgery is usually only recommended in rare cases when other types of treatments fail or the joint damage is very severe.

Joint replacement, joint fusing, or bone surgery are all possible options, but usually, these are reserved as a last measure.

Pain relief for osteoarthritis

One of the biggest challenges with osteoarthritis is managing the everyday pain.

While traditional medicines offer effective pain relief, they rarely come without side effects. Especially when taken regularly over a long period of time.

So, we often look for alternative pain remedies. This is exactly how we came up with a new and effective solution called vibrotactile technology. This method is entirely drug-free, so you don’t have to worry about side effects. And it doesn’t interfere with other pain meds, either.

We call this new way of pain management the Freedom SuperPatch because it finally sets you free not only from the pain but also from the worry of potentially harmful medications.

Ready to reclaim your Freedom? Check out our Freedom pain patches!