Osteoarthritis
Overview
Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes joints to become painful and stiff. It's the most common type ofarthritisin the UK.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are joint pain and stiffness, and problems moving the joint. Some people also have symptoms such as: swellingtendernessgrating or crackling sound when moving the affected joints The severity of osteoarthritis symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, and between different affected joints. For some people, the symptoms can be mild and may come and go. Other people can experience more continuous and severe problems which make it difficult to carry out everyday activities. Almost any joint can be affected by osteoarthritis, but the condition most often causes problems in the knees, hips and small joints of the hands. You should see your GP if you have persistent symptoms of osteoarthritis so they can confirm the diagnosis and prescribe any necessary treatment. Read more about thesymptoms of osteoarthritis.
Causes
As part of normal life, your joints are exposed to a constant low level of damage. In most cases, your body repairs the damage itself and you do not experience any symptoms. But in osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones breaks down, causing pain, swelling and problems moving the joint. Bony growths can develop, and the area can become swollen and red. (Redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin.) The exact cause is not known, but several things are thought to increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis, including: joint injury – overusing your joint when it has not had enough time to heal after an injury or operationother conditions (secondary arthritis) – osteoarthritis can happen in joints severely damaged by a previous or existing condition, such asrheumatoid arthritisorgoutage – your risk of developing the condition increases as you get olderfamily history – osteoarthritis may run in families, although studies have not identified a single gene responsibleobesity– being obese puts excess strain on your joints, particularly those that bear most of your weight, such as your knees and hipsbeing a woman – osteoarthritis is more common in women than men
Treatment
Exercise (strengthening); Weight loss; Painkillers (Paracetamol/NSAID creams); Physio; Joint replacement surgery.
Prevention
It's not possible to prevent osteoarthritis altogether. However, you may be able to minimise your risk of developing the condition by avoiding injury and living a healthy lifestyle.
When to see a doctor
See GP if: persistent joint pain/stiffness affecting life.