Osteoarthritis (Part 1) - What are its symptoms and Causes?

The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) causes pain and stiffness in the joints and surrounding tissue due to damage or deterioration (wear and tear) in the cartilage (the cushioning material between the bones).

OA symptoms generally develop gradually, and they worsen over time. Early symptoms may include joint tenderness, mild joint swelling, or joint stiffness after periods of rest (such as when waking up in the morning).

If you have just started to notice OA symptoms, please consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis - Pain

One of the most obvious signs of osteoarthritis (OA) is pain. OA pain isn't experienced in one particular area, but usually throughout many joints in a specific joint family.

The joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis include hips, knees, spine, shoulders, ankles, fingers, and neck.

The severity of pain usually varies from person to person – some experience mild discomfort while others find it hard to carry out their day-to-day activities.

At times, it becomes extremely hard for them to perform even minor tasks such as walking or bending down to pick up an object lying on the floor.

Additionally, some individuals experience extreme joint pains at night causing them sleepless nights that further affect their everyday life.

Stiffness.

When you wake up in the morning, do you feel pain or stiffness when you move your joints? This can be because of osteoarthritis (OA).

The cartilage that cushions each joint wears out with age or after an injury. When it wears down, it causes bones to rub against each other, leading to pain.

The affected joints become stiffer than usual, which can be a problem since regular movement helps them work properly.

Tenderness

Arthritis causes include pain, swelling, stiffness, and tenderness in your joints. When you touch your joints, they may hurt.

Pain levels can vary from mild to excruciating. Often arthritis pain occurs when a joint moves; for example, when you get out of bed or sit down.

Arthritis may feel like anything from mild discomfort to severe pain that limits your ability to move or complete daily tasks.

Loss of flexibility

When joint cartilage breaks down, joints become stiff. This can make it difficult to move with ease. For some people, osteoarthritis also causes pain in their joints, especially during movement.

Pain can be worse when cold or damp weather sets in. In addition to stiffness and pain, many people with osteoarthritis have a hard time flexing certain joints due to tight muscles; for example, you may have trouble touching your toes if your calf muscles pull on your Achilles tendon too much.

If these difficulties bother you or make it hard for you to get around normally—for example, if you need to grab hold of something for stability—it’s a good idea to see a doctor about them.

Grating sensation

Because cartilage doesn’t have nerve endings, you might not feel pain when your cartilage deteriorates, but you may feel pressure on your bones or stiffness in your joints.

That's because bones rubbing together can make a grating sensation known as crepitus (Kri-PIE-us). It feels like you're getting goosebumps under your skin.

The feeling could come and go or be permanent. When osteoarthritis starts to affect your knees, you might experience increased pain when going upstairs or squatting down to pick something up off of the floor. You also may notice the decreased range of motion in that knee.

Bone spurs

If you have mild to moderate osteoarthritis, your doctor may recommend anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen.

If you have more severe pain, he or she may inject a steroid medication into your knees. Over time, as more damage occurs in your joints, a doctor may recommend surgery to shave down bone spurs that have developed inside of them.

This does not restore joint function; rather it helps make existing joint space slightly larger for easier movement.

You might also get a joint replacement (arthroplasty). This helps replace an arthritic knee with an artificial one.

Joint replacement often relieves pain because it allows movement again without any grinding or catching inside of your knee.

Swelling

One of the most common indicators of osteoarthritis is swelling. The inflammation from joint damage can cause fluid to accumulate in nearby tissue.

Swelling typically occurs in joints that face a lot of pressure, such as knees, ankles, elbows, and hips. For example, osteoarthritis in the knee (i.e., osteoarthritis of the knee) causes pain and swelling on or around your kneecap (i.e., patellar).

You may also experience pain while trying to straighten your knee when you have osteoarthritis of the knee.

Factors predispose Osteoarthritis –

Older age

Arthritis occurs more often in people over 50. As we age, our joints naturally wear out due to factors such as repeated use and injury.

Also, ligaments and tendons become less flexible, which can increase strain on your joints. Over time, these joint changes may lead to osteoarthritis or other types of arthritis.

Sex

This is another factor that can increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis. Women are more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis than men, possibly due to hormonal changes.

Similarly, women may also be more susceptible to hip osteoarthritis because of their wider hips. You don’t have to wait until you’re older either—youth activities like sports or weight lifting can lead to an early onset of osteoarthritis.

Obesity

If you’re overweight, carrying around excess weight can increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Furthermore, research shows that extra body fat raises inflammation levels in your body, a prime suspect for osteoarthritis pain.

If you’re significantly overweight and dealing with chronic knee pain or stiffness, talk to your doctor about losing weight through a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

These changes could help reduce your pain and make sure it doesn’t get worse down the road.

Joint injuries

Working out can be a great way to maintain your mobility as you age, but it also puts a lot of pressure on your joints.

If you've ever hurt yourself while working out, then you know what I'm talking about! Ankle sprains, knee strains, and meniscus tears all result from excessive wear and tear on your body's joints.

Sprains or tears to cartilage—the tissue that cushions your joints—can happen even without direct trauma; instead of tearing or rupturing in one big move, they do so gradually over time. Joint injuries make it hard to work out or keep active without pain.

Bone deformities.

People with bone deformities tend to develop osteoarthritis as a result of their disease. One common symptom of osteoarthritis is deformed joints, thereby causing uneven pressure and ultimately deteriorating the joint.

Osteoarthritis also can be caused by osteoporosis, another condition that’s common among people with arthritis. Both conditions can coexist and be treated with medication.

In some cases, surgery may be necessary; however, there are alternative treatments available for both osteoarthritis and osteoporosis that can help relieve discomfort without requiring major surgery.

N.B – The content provided is for information and education purposes only.