Osteoarthritis

What is Osteoarthritis?

   Arthritis is a general term that describes inflammation in joints. Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis. It is associated with a breakdown of cartilage in joints and commonly occurs in the hips, knees, and spine. Also, it often affects the finger joints, the joint at the base of the thumb, and the joint at the base of the big toe.

What is cartilage?

    Cartilage is a firm, rubbery material that covers the ends of bones in normal joints.
Its main function is to reduce friction in the joints and serve as a "shock absorber."
The shock-absorbing quality of normal cartilage comes from its ability to change shape when compressed. Cartilage can change shape
because it contains more than 70 percent water, which can be redistributed with movement.
   For example, when force is applied to a knee,
as in standing or walking, some water from cartilage enters the joint and coats the cartilage. When the force is no longer present, such as when you sit down, the water is reabsorbed and the cartilage regains its normal shape. Because cartilage does not contain nerves, you do not feel pain when these changes in shape occur.  Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in a joint
to become stiff and lose its elasticity, making it more susceptible to damage. Over time, the cartilage may wear away in some areas, greatly decreasing its ability to act as a shock absorber.   As the cartilage wears away, tendons and ligaments stretch, causing pain. If the condition worsens, the bones could rub against each other.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

           • 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)
   
    Osteoarthritis is not associated with fever, weight loss, or anemia (low red-blood
cell count). If these symptoms are present in someone with osteoarthritis, they are caused by a condition unrelated to the osteoarthritis.

Who is affected by osteoarthritis?

   Osteoarthritis affects almost 16 million men and women in the United States. The chance of developing osteoarthritis increases with age. Most people over age 60 have osteoarthritis to some degree, but its severity varies, and some people develop more severe symptoms than others.

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