What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It happens when the thin layer of cartilage that covers your bones breaks down. 

Cartilage loss disrupts fluid joint movement and causes pain as the bones grind together. The bone grinding may cause bone spurs, tiny bumps of bone that make movement especially painful.

Osteoarthritis can appear in almost any joint in your body, but it’s quite common in the hips, knees, and shoulders.  

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis symptoms may include: 

Pain

Pain can encompass both the joint and the areas around it. For example, with hip osteoarthritis, it’s common to have pain in your hip as well as your inner thigh and nearby buttock. 

The pain may increase during physical activity and recede when resting, but it can happen at any time. Some people notice that their pain worsens in certain weather. As osteoarthritis progresses, you might also experience pain at night — it may even wake you up.

Stiffness

Stiffness is a common problem with osteoarthritis. It usually lasts for half an hour or less when you first wake up but recedes as you start moving. Your stiffness may return after an extended period of rest. Stiffness can greatly reduce your normal range of motion. 

Swelling

The soft tissues surrounding your joint may grow very irritated, which can lead to swelling in the immediate area.

Grating 

You may experience a grating, clicking, or crackling sound or sensation when you move your joint. That is commonly a sign of bone spurs in your joint. 

Osteoarthritis symptoms usually come and go, but as the disease progresses, your symptoms may happen almost constantly. 

What causes osteoarthritis?

Years of wear and tear can break your cartilage down, so osteoarthritis usually occurs in older adults. Osteoarthritis symptoms usually start around age 50-60, but they can start much earlier or later in life as well. 

Women are more likely to have osteoarthritis than men — women are 40% more likely to have knee osteoarthritis and 10% more likely to have hip osteoarthritis than their male counterparts. 

But, age and gender aren’t the only factors in osteoarthritis development. For example, osteoarthritis often happens following a traumatic joint injury. Disease, bone deformity, and genetics can all increase your risk of osteoarthritis.

How is osteoarthritis treated?

Treatment of early and mid-stage osteoarthritis generally involves conservative care. Some of the most common approaches include medication, physical therapy, and corticosteroid injections. Weight loss and shoe orthotics may also help to ease joint stress and improve your comfort. 

If you have persistent joint pain and you can’t function normally, even after conservative treatments, your Dearborn and Livonia Orthopedics & Sports Medicine provider may recommend surgery to either repair or replace the damaged joint.

To learn more about osteoarthritis and your treatment options, call Dearborn and Livonia Orthopedics & Sports Medicine or click the online booking tool now.