The Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, occurring in about fifty percent of people over the age of sixty five, yet many people know very little about it. Because it mostly affects older people, the symptoms of osteoarthritis can easily be confused with the symptoms of other medical conditions. This can delay diagnosis and treatment, allowing the osteoarthritis to get worse. For this reason, it is important to be aware of what the symptoms of osteoarthritis are.

Osteoarthritis is a disease which affects the cartilage in joints. Cartilage is the soft, slippery tissue which helps joints to move easily and stops bones from rubbing against each other. This means that as cartilage wears away symptoms of bone pain and grinding sensations during movement start to occur. Cartilage also protects the ends of the bones from damage caused by impact when walking, jumping and so forth. Osteoarthritis sufferers frequently find that they feel impact painfully all the way along their bones. Because the knees are the main weight bearing joint in the body, osteoarthritis symptoms often appear first there, progressing to the hips and the lower back. When osteoarthritis causing swelling in the lower back, this can put pressure on the spine and cause sensations of weakness in the arms and legs. In later stage osteoarthritis, when cartilage is mostly worn away, nodules of bone can develop on the ends of bones. Sometimes these can break off, causing symptoms such as swelling and aching in joints even when resting. A build-up of fluid in joints damaged by osteoarthritis can make flexing and bending those joints difficult.

Causes of Arthritis

Although the above are all common symptoms of osteoarthritis, the disease manifests differently in different individuals, so not all of these symptoms may be present at once, or they may develop in a different order. Osteoarthritis also commonly affects the shoulders, hands and neck. Symptoms of osteoarthritis can be confused with strain caused by exercise, making it difficult to be sure in the short term about what's causing them, but if symptoms like these occur over several weeks then it's important to consult a doctor. Osteoarthritis can usually be diagnosed quite easily using x-rays, which will show where cartilage is missing, and tests on fluid drawn out of affected joints. Although there is no cute for osteoarthritis, early diagnosis makes it easier to control some of the symptoms so that it has a less severe effect on quality of life.

Osteoarthritis occurs in both men and women; in women, it often seems to be triggered by the menopause, so this is a particularly important time to be on the lookout for possible symptoms. Although it is primarily a disease of old age, osteoarthritis can occasionally occur in younger people, usually after a joint has been damaged through injury. These cases can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms of osteoarthritis can be confused with the general symptoms of the injury. Osteoarthritis is among the most common causes of disability in the western world, and a better understanding of its symptoms can make a big difference to everyone's chances of living long, active, healthy lives.