Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It affects millions of people worldwide. It’s a degenerative joint disease that occurs when cartilage - the elastic, protective tissue that cushions the ends of your bones - gradually wears down. 

Osteoarthritis develops slowly, usually when you’re middle-aged or older. As it gets worse, it can cause pain, inflammation and stiffness that can make it hard to move and use your joint. It can have a big impact on your daily activities.

Osteoarthritis can’t be cured but diagnosing and managing it early can help you stay as mobile as possible. At Banner Health, our expert care can help you stay active and comfortable.

What is osteoarthritis? 

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that happens when the cartilage that protects your bones slowly wears down. Without this cushion, your bones rub against each other and cause pain and other symptoms like swelling and stiffness. 

Over time, your body may develop bone spurs (growths) because of osteoarthritis, which can make you even more uncomfortable and make it harder for you to move your joint.

You’re most likely to have osteoarthritis in weight-bearing joints like the knees, hips and spine, but you can get it in any of your joints, including hands, shoulders, elbows and ankles. It gets worse over time, so it’s important to start treatment early.

Risk factors for osteoarthritis 

Several risk factors can increase your chance of developing osteoarthritis. They include:

• Age: You are more likely to have osteoarthritis as you get older, due to natural wear and tear on your joints over time.
• Genetics: A family history of osteoarthritis can make you more likely to get the condition.
• Injury or overuse: Joint injuries or repetitive motion from sports or work can make your cartilage break down more quickly.
• Obesity: Extra weight puts pressure on your weight-bearing joints, increasing the stress on them.
• Medical history: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic disorders and previous joint surgeries may make it more likely that you will develop osteoarthritis.

Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis 

Osteoarthritis symptoms vary but commonly include:

• Pain and inflammation that gets worse with activity and eases up when you rest
• Joint stiffness, especially after you haven’t been active for a long time or when you wake up in the morning
• Pain that gets better with mild activity but worse with vigorous activity
• Decreased range of motion, which can make it hard for you to move, bend, straighten or rotate the joint
• A joint that looks enlarged or swollen
• A grating sensation or a clicking or popping sound that you may notice when you move the joint
• Bone spurs, which can cause discomfort

Symptoms often develop slowly and get worse over time, so it’s important to talk to a health care provider when you notice them. 

Diagnosing osteoarthritis

When you see a health care provider for arthritis symptoms, they may:

• Review your medical history and symptoms. They will want to know when the pain began, what it feels like, what makes it better and whether you’ve ever injured the joint.
• Conduct a physical exam to see how well your joint is functioning, how much pain you have and whether you have any signs of injury.
• Order imaging tests like X-rays to check for signs of wear and tear or bone spurs in your joint or MRIs to get more detailed images.
• Perform lab tests like blood work if needed, to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms to osteoarthritis.

Treatment options for osteoarthritis

While there’s no cure for osteoarthritis, treatments can reduce pain and inflammation, improve mobility and enhance your quality of life. Treatment usually includes a mix of lifestyle changes, medication and physical therapy, and works best when you start it early. Talk to your health care provider about these options:

Non-surgical treatments

• Pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like Advil, Motrin) may help manage discomfort.
• Physical therapy can strengthen your muscles and improve your range of motion.
• Braces, splints and shoe inserts may help support your joints.
• Applying heat or cold to the joint several times a day may reduce discomfort.
• The dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may help with pain.

Minimally invasive treatments

• Corticosteroid injections may be used to reduce inflammation but should be used sparingly.
• Hyaluronic acid injections may make your joints more lubricated.
• Low-dose radiation may lower inflammation around the joint.

Surgical options

• Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure where a surgeon removes bone spurs, damaged areas or fragments from the joint.
• Osteotomy realigns long bones, like those in the arm or leg, to reduce pressure on the joint.
• Joint fusion fastens bones together. With fusion, the joint can’t move so it no longer hurts. It’s most often used in the spine, hands or feet.
• Joint replacement surgery uses a prosthetic joint made of metal or plastic to replace the joint.

Lifestyle tips for managing osteoarthritis

• Stay active: Low-impact activities like swimming and walking help keep your joints flexible.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Reducing weight if you need to can lower the stress on your joints. Even losing a small amount of weight may help.
• Protect your joints: Wear supportive footwear, avoid high-impact activities and modify your movements so you don’t add more damage to your joints.
• Manage pain naturally: Heat and cold therapy, stretching and over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can help.
• Consider alternative therapies: Meditation, yoga and acupuncture may help reduce pain.

Why choose Banner Health for osteoarthritis care? 

At Banner Health, we understand how joint pain from osteoarthritis can limit your activities and affect your quality of life. Our team of experienced specialists in joint health uses advanced diagnostic tools to evaluate your joints. 

They can recommend comprehensive treatments, from medication to surgery, and personalized care plans to improve your quality of life.