# data[].attributes.body
Osteoarthritis is a deteriorating condition of the cartilage at ends of the bone. It is most commonly found in the areas of the hands, knees, and spine.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Osteoarthritis

This serious, painful condition is the most common form of arthritis and can affect any joint.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that can affect the many tissues of the joint. It is by far the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 32.5 million adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Historically, osteoarthritis (OA) was known as a "wear and tear" condition, generally associated with aging. But we know now that it is a disease of the entire joint, including bone, cartilage, ligaments, fat and the tissues lining the joint (the synovium). Osteoarthritis can degrade cartilage, change bone shape and cause inflammation, resulting in pain, stiffness and loss of mobility.

OA can affect any joint, but typically affects hands, knees, hips, lower back and neck. Its signs and symptoms typically show up more often in individuals over age 50, but OA can affect much younger people, too, especially those who have had a prior joint injury, such as a torn ACL or meniscus. It typically develops slowly over time, but after such an injury, it can develop much more rapidly, within just a few years. OA is not an inevitable aging disease; some people never develop it.

There is no cure for OA, but there are ways to manage OA to minimize pain, continue physical activities, maintain a good quality of life and remain mobile.

Causes

Factors that may contribute to the development of OA include

Age. The risk of developing OA increases with age and symptoms generally, but not always, appear in people over 50.

Joint injury. A bone fracture or cartilage or ligament tear can lead to OA, sometimes more quickly than in cases where there is not an obvious injury.

Overuse. Using the same joints over and over in a job or sport can result in OA.

Obesity. Excess weight adds stress and pressure on a joint, plus fats cells promote inflammation.

Musculoskeletal abnormalities. Malalignment of bone or joint structures can contribute to faster development of OA.

Weak muscles. If muscles don't provide adequate joint support, poor alignment can result, which can lead to OA.

Genetics. People with family members who have OA are more likely to develop it.

Gender. Women are more likely to develop OA than men.

Environmental Factors. Modifiable environmental risk factors include things like someone's occupation, level of physical activity, quadriceps strength, presence or absence of prior joint injury, obesity, diet, sex hormones, and bone density.

Symptoms

Symptoms tend to build over time rather than show up suddenly. They include

Pain or aching in a joint during activity, after long activity or at the end of the day.

Joint stiffness usually occurs first thing in the morning or after resting.

Limited range of motion that may go away after movement.

Clicking or popping sound when a joint bends.

Swelling around a joint.

Muscle weakness around the joint.

Joint instability or buckling (as when a knee gives out).

OA may affect different parts of the body in different ways.

Hips. Pain in the groin area or buttocks and sometimes on the inside of the knee or thigh.

Knees. A "grating" or "scraping" feeling when moving the knee.

Fingers. Bony growths (spurs) at the edge of joints can cause fingers to become swollen, tender and red, sometimes with pain at the base of the thumb.

Feet. Pain and tenderness in the big toe, with possible swelling in the ankles or toes.

Potential Consequences

Pain, reduced mobility, side effects from medications and other factors associated with osteoarthritis can lead to health complications that are not caused by the disease itself.
Obesity, Diabetes and Heart Disease
Painful joints, especially in the feet, ankles, knees, hip or back, make it harder to exercise. But physical activity is not only key to managing OA symptoms, it also can help prevent weight gain, which can lead to obesity. Being overweight or obese can lead to the development of high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
Falls
Research indicates people with OA experience more falls and risk of fracture than those without OA. Although study results vary, some research shows they may have up to 30% more falls and have a 20% greater risk of fracture. Having OA can decrease function, weaken muscles, affect overall balance, and make falls more likely, especially among those with OA in knees or hips. Side effects from pain medications, such as dizziness, can also contribute to falls.

Support vital advocacy, research and programs for the nearly 60 million people in America living with arthritis.

Give to support the 1 in 4 adults and hundreds of thousands of children in America who live with painful and often debilitating arthritis.

Diagnosis

Medical history, a physical examination and lab tests help to make up the OA diagnosis.

A primary care doctor may be the first person you talk to about joint pain. The doctor will review your medical history, symptoms, how the pain affects activities, as well as your medical problems and medication use. He or she will also look at and move your joints, and may order imaging. These tests help to make the diagnosis:

Joint aspiration. After numbing the area, a needle is inserted into the joint to pull out fluid. This test will look for infection or crystals in the fluid to help rule out other medical conditions or other forms of arthritis.

X-ray. X-rays can show joint or bone damage or changes related to osteoarthritis.

MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gives a better view of cartilage and other parts of the joint.

Treatment

There is no cure for OA, but medication, assistive devices and other therapies that don't involve drugs can help to ease pain. As a last resort, a damaged joint may be surgically fused or replaced with one made of a combination of metal, plastic and/or ceramic.
Medications
Pain and anti-inflammatorymedicines for osteoarthritis are available as pills, syrups, patches, gels, creams or injectables. They include:

Analgesics. These are pain relievers and include acetaminophen and opioids. Acetaminophen is available over the counter (OTC); opioids must be prescribed by a doctor.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These are the most commonly used drugs to ease inflammation and pain. They include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and celecoxib, available either OTC or by prescription. The OTC versions help with pain but not inflammation.

Counterirritants. These OTC products contain ingredients like capsaicin, menthol and lidocaine that irritate nerve endings, so the painful area feels cold, warm or itchy to take focus away from the actual pain.

Corticosteroids. These prescription anti-inflammatory medicines work in a similar way to a hormone called cortisol. The medicine is taken by mouth or injected into the joint at a doctor's office.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Available from a doctor by injection, this product is intended to help ease pain and inflammation. This is not approved by the Food & Drug Administration and evidence is still emerging, so discuss it with your doctor before trying it.

Other drugs. The antidepressant duloxetine (Cymbalta) and the anti-seizure drug pregabalin (Lyrica) are oral medicines that are FDA-approved to treat OA pain.

Nondrug Therapies Exercise
Movement is an essential part of an OA treatment plan. Getting 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week should be the goal, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A good exercise program to fight OA pain and stiffness has four parts:

Strengthening exercises build muscles around painful joints and helps to ease the stress on them.

Range-of-motion exercise or stretchinghelps toreduce stiffness and keep joints moving.

Aerobic or cardio exercises help improve stamina and energy levels and reduce excess weight.

Balance exercises help strengthen small muscles around the knees and ankles and help prevent falls.

Talk to a doctor or physical therapist before starting a new exercise program.
Weight Loss
Excess weight puts additional force and stress on weight-bearing joints, including the hips, knees, ankles, feet and back, and fat cells promote inflammation. Losing extra weight helps reduce pain and slow joint damage. Every pound of weight lost removes four pounds of pressure on lower-body joints.

Physical Therapies and Assistive Devices
Physical therapists, occupational therapists and chiropractors can provide:

Specific exercises to help stabilize your joints and ease pain.

Information about natural treatments and products that can ease pain.

Instruction to make movement easier and to protect joints.

Braces, shoe inserts or other assistive devices.

Surgery
Joint surgery can improve pain and function. Joint replacement surgery replaces damaged joints to restore mobility and relieve pain. Hips and knees are the joints most commonly replaced. An orthopedic surgeon can determine the best procedure based on how badly damaged the joint is.

Self-Care

Practicing these habits can slow down OA, keep you healthier overall and delay surgery as long as possible. It is important to pursue a number of different self-care approaches simultaneously. They are listed below.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess weight worsens OA. Combine healthy eating with regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight.
Control Blood Sugar
Many people have diabetes and OA. Having high glucose levels can make cartilage stiffer and more likely to break down. Having diabetes causes inflammation, which also weakens cartilage.
Maintain Range of Motion
Movement is medicine for joints. Make a habit of putting your joints through their full range of motion, but only up to the point where it doesn't cause more pain. Gentle stretching, raising and lowering legs from a standing or seated position, daily walks and hobbies such as gardening can help. But listen to your body and never push too hard.
Protect Joints
Make sure to warm up and cool down when doing exercise. If you play sports, protects joints with the right gear. Use your largest, strongest joints for lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying. Watch your step to prevent falls. Balance rest and activity throughout the day.
Relax
Find ways to reduce or avoid stress through meditation, listening to music, connecting with friends and family, doing fun activities, and finding ways to relax and recharge.
Choose a Healthy Lifestyle
Eating healthy food, balanced nutrition, not smoking, drinking in moderation and getting good sleep will help you to feel your best.

Diagnosed With Osteoarthritis?

Get the latest news and tips about living with OA in the Living Your Yes! e-newsletter.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Osteoarthritis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment | Arthritis Foundation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Osteoarthritis is recognized as a disease of the whole joint. Read important information about osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, and its treatment.

# data[].attributes.headline
Normal knee vs knee with osteoarthritis 

# data[].attributes.subject
Normal knee vs knee with osteoarthritis 

# data[].attributes.body
Etiology

Obesity - extra weight puts more stress on the joints

Sex - women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis

Joint Injuries - increases risk for osteoarthritis

Overuse of the same muscle group - can lead to a breakdown of cartilage

Pathophysiology

Inflammation occurs in the synovial joint which destroys the tissue --> that warrants the breakdown of the cartilage. That will cause bone spurs to happens, induce swelling, and cause loss of movement.

# data[].attributes.headline
Simple visual overview of osteoarthritis

# data[].attributes.subject
Simple visual overview of osteoarthritis

# data[].attributes.headline
Diagnosis, Interventions, and Patient Care

# data[].attributes.subject
Diagnosis, Interventions, and Patient Care

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612336/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Diagnosis

During the physical exam, your doctor will check your affected joint for tenderness, swelling, redness and flexibility.

Imaging tests

To get pictures of the affected joint, your doctor might recommend:

X-rays. Cartilage doesn't show up on X-ray images, but cartilage loss is revealed by a narrowing of the space between the bones in your joint. An X-ray can also show bone spurs around a joint.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of bone and soft tissues, including cartilage. An MRI isn't commonly needed to diagnose osteoarthritis but can help provide more information in complex cases.

Lab tests

Analyzing your blood or joint fluid can help confirm the diagnosis.

Blood tests. Although there's no blood test for osteoarthritis, certain tests can help rule out other causes of joint pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Joint fluid analysis. Your doctor might use a needle to draw fluid from an affected joint. The fluid is then tested for inflammation and to determine whether your pain is caused by gout or an infection rather than osteoarthritis.

Treatment

Osteoarthritis can't be reversed, but treatments can reduce pain and help you move better.

Medications

Medications that can help relieve osteoarthritis symptoms, primarily pain, include:

Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) has been shown to help some people with osteoarthritis who have mild to moderate pain. Taking more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen can cause liver damage.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), taken at the recommended doses, typically relieve osteoarthritis pain. Stronger NSAIDs are available by prescription.

NSAIDs can cause stomach upset, cardiovascular problems, bleeding problems, and liver and kidney damage. NSAIDs as gels, applied to the skin over the affected joint, have fewer side effects and may relieve pain just as well.

Duloxetine (Cymbalta). Normally used as an antidepressant, this medication is also approved to treat chronic pain, including osteoarthritis pain.

Therapy

Physical therapy. A physical therapist can show you exercises to strengthen the muscles around your joint, increase your flexibility and reduce pain. Regular gentle exercise that you do on your own, such as swimming or walking, can be equally effective.

Occupational therapy. An occupational therapist can help you discover ways to do everyday tasks without putting extra stress on your already painful joint. For instance, a toothbrush with a large grip could make brushing your teeth easier if you have osteoarthritis in your hands. A bench in your shower could help relieve the pain of standing if you have knee osteoarthritis.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). This uses a low-voltage electrical current to relieve pain. It provides short-term relief for some people with knee and hip osteoarthritis.

Surgical and other procedures

If conservative treatments don't help, you might want to consider procedures such as:

Cortisone injections. Injections of a corticosteroid into your joint might relieve pain for a few weeks. Your doctor numbs the area around your joint, then places a needle into the space within your joint and injects medication. The number of cortisone injections you can receive each year is generally limited to three or four, because the medication can worsen joint damage over time.

Lubrication injections. Injections of hyaluronic acid might relieve pain by providing some cushioning in your knee, though some research suggests that these injections offer no more relief than a placebo. Hyaluronic acid is similar to a component normally found in your joint fluid.

Realigning bones. If osteoarthritis has damaged one side of your knee more than the other, an osteotomy might be helpful. In a knee osteotomy, a surgeon cuts across the bone either above or below the knee, and then removes or adds a wedge of bone. This shifts your body weight away from the worn-out part of your knee.

Joint replacement. In joint replacement surgery, your surgeon removes your damaged joint surfaces and replaces them with plastic and metal parts. Surgical risks include infections and blood clots. Artificial joints can wear out or come loose and might eventually need to be replaced.

Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Learn all you can about your condition and how to manage it, especially about how lifestyle changes can affect your symptoms. Exercising and losing weight if you're overweight are important ways to lessen the joint pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis.

Exercise. Low-impact exercise can increase your endurance and strengthen the muscles around your joint, making your joint more stable. Try walking, bicycling or water aerobics. If you feel new joint pain, stop.

New pain that lasts for hours after you exercise probably means you've overdone it, not that you've caused damage or that you should stop exercising. Try again a day or two later at a lower level of intensity.

Lose weight. Carrying extra weight increases the stress on your weight-bearing joints, such as your knees and your hips. Even minor weight loss can relieve some pressure and reduce your pain. Talk to a dietitian about healthy ways to lose weight.

Other things to try include:

Movement therapies. Tai chi and yoga involve gentle exercises and stretches combined with deep breathing. Many people use these therapies to reduce stress in their lives, and research suggests that tai chi and yoga might reduce osteoarthritis pain and improve movement.

Make sure the yoga you choose is a gentle form and that your instructor knows which of your joints are affected. Avoid moves that cause pain in your joints.

Heat and cold. Both heat and cold can relieve pain and swelling in your joint. Heat, especially moist heat, can help muscles relax and ease pain. Cold can relieve muscle aches after exercise and decrease muscle spasms.

Capsaicin. Topical capsaicin, a chili pepper extract, applied to your skin over an arthritic joint might help. You might have to apply it three to four times a day for several weeks before you see a benefit. Some people can't tolerate the irritation. Wash your hands well after applying capsaicin cream.

Braces or shoe inserts. Shoe inserts or other devices might help reduce pain when you stand or walk. These devices can support your joint to help take pressure off it.

Assistive devices. Assistive devices can help relieve stress on your joints. A cane or walker take weight off your knee or hip as you walk. Hold the cane in the hand opposite the leg that hurts.

Tools for gripping and grabbing may make it easier to work in the kitchen if you have osteoarthritis in your fingers. Check catalogs or medical supply stores or ask your doctor or occupational therapist about assistive devices.

Alternative medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine treatments that have shown promise for osteoarthritis include:

Acupuncture. Some studies indicate that acupuncture can relieve pain and improve function in people who have knee osteoarthritis. During acupuncture, hair-thin needles are inserted into your skin at precise spots on your body.

Glucosamine and chondroitin. Studies have been mixed on these nutritional supplements. A few have found benefits for people with osteoarthritis, while most indicate that these supplements work no better than a placebo. Glucosamine and chondroitin can interact with blood thinners such as warfarin (Jantoven, and cause bleeding problems.

Avocado-soybean unsaponifiables. This nutritional supplement - a mixture of avocado and soybean oils - is widely used in Europe to treat knee and hip osteoarthritis. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, and some studies have shown that it can slow or even prevent joint damage.

Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s, found in fatty fish and fish oil supplements, might help relieve pain and improve function.

Talk to your doctor about supplements you're considering.

Coping and support

Your ability to cope despite pain and disability caused by osteoarthritis often determines how much of an impact osteoarthritis will have on your life. Talk to your doctor if you're feeling frustrated, because he or she may have ideas to help you cope or be able to refer you to someone who can help.

Preparing for your appointment

You might start by seeing your primary care doctor, who might refer you to a doctor who specializes in joint disorders (rheumatologist) or orthopedic surgery.

What you can do

Make a list that includes:

Detailed descriptions of your symptoms and when they began

Information about medical problems you, your parents and your siblings have had

All the prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements you take and the dosages

Questions to ask the doctor

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor might ask some of the following questions:

Is the pain continuous, or does it come and go?

Do any particular activities make the pain better or worse?

Have you ever injured this joint?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
During the physical exam, your doctor will check your affected joint for tenderness, swelling, redness and flexibility. To get pictures of the affected joint, your doctor might recommend: X-rays. Cartilage doesn't show up on X-ray images, but cartilage loss is revealed by a narrowing of the space between the bones in your joint.