Osteoarthritis

Definition

Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease and it is the most common joint disorder. It's a chronic condition that may cause deterioration of joint cartilage and the formation of reactive new bone at the margins. If you have this disease, then it may affects weight bearing joints such as knees, feet, hips, lumbar vertebrae. It is widespread and is most common in women.

Causes of Osteoarthritis

If you have Osteoarthritis, then it may occurs in synovial joints. The primary defect in both idiopathic and secondary osteoarthritis is loss of particular cartilage and it may be occur due to functional changes in chondrocytes. Because in which cells responsible for the formation of the proteoglycans, glycoproteins that act as cementing material in the cartilage, and collagen.

If you have Idiopathic osteoarthritis, it may be occur due to various factors such as:

• Metabolic factors and genetic factors
• Chemical factors
• Mechanical factors

If you have Secondary osteoarthritis, then it usually follows an identifiable predisposing event that leads to degenerative changes such as:

• Trauma
• Congenital deformity
• Hormonal changes
• Obesity

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Various symptoms of this disease may include:

• Deep, aching joint pain that may be occur due to degradation of the cartilage, inflammation, and bone stress, particularly after exercise or weight bearing
• Stiffness in the morning and after exercise
• Crepitus, or "grating" of the joint during motion due to cartilage damage
• Heberden's nodes due to repeated inflammation
• Altered gait from contractures due to overcompensation of the muscles supporting the joint
• Decreased range of motion due to pain and stiffness
• Joint enlargement due to stress on the bone and disordered bone growth, localized headaches

Other various complications of osteoarthritis include:

• Irreversible joint changes and node formation
• Subluxation of the joint
• Decreased joint ROM
• Joint contractures
• Pain
• Loss of independence in activities of daily living.

Treatment of Osteoarthritis

If you have this disease, then you should be use Possible treatment such as:

• The goal of treatment is to treat pain, maintain or improve mobility, and minimize disability. Treatment for this disease may include weight loss to reduce stress on the joint, balance of rest and exercise, such as swimming.
• You should also provide emotional support and reassurance to help the patient cope with limited mobility.
• You can also use medications such as aspirin, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, indomethadn, phenylbutazone, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; propoxyphene; COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib; and analgesic creams such as capsaidn for the treatment of this disease.
• In which treatment, if the patient needs surgery, then you should provide appropriate preoperative and postoperative care.
• Another treatment for this disease is surgical treatment, reserved for patients with severe disability or uncontrollable pain, may include arthroplasty, arthrodesis, osteoplasty, osteotomy.
• You should support or stabilization of joint with crutches, braces, cane, walker, cervical collar, or traction to reduce stress.