Osteoarthritis
Who Gets Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis affects nearly 21 million Americans. The chance of developing the disease increases with age. Most people over age 60 have osteoarthritis to some degree but even people in their 20s and 30s can show symptoms. Typically, more women than men get osteoarthritis. This is especially true for people over 50.
What Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
Symptoms of osteoarthritis most often develop gradually and include:
Joint aching and soreness, especially with movement
Pain after overuse or after long periods of inactivity
Bony enlargements in the middle and end joints of the fingers (which may or may not be painful)
Joint swelling and joint fluid accumulation
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
There are several factors that increase a person’s chances of developing osteoarthritis. These include:
Heredity
Obesity
Injury
Joint Overuse
How Is Osteoarthritis Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is based on a combination of the following factors:
Your description of symptoms
The location and pattern of pain
Physical exam
Your doctor may use X-rays or blood tests to help confirm the diagnosis and make sure you don’t have another type of arthritis. If fluid has accumulated in the joints, your doctor may remove some of the fluid for examination under a microscope to rule out other diseases.
How Is Osteoarthritis Treated?
There are several ways Osteoarthritis is treated:
Physical therapy with muscle strengthening exercises
Oral medications
Hot and cold compresses to the painful joint
Removal of joint fluid
Injection of medications into the joint
Use of supportive devices such as crutches or canes
Weight control
Surgery
The type of treatment prescribed depends on several factors including your age, activities and occupation, overall health, medical history, location of your osteoarthritis and severity of the condition.