What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a "cushion" between the bones of the joints. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis. Among the over 100 different types of arthritis conditions, osteoarthritis is the most common. Osteoarthritis occurs more frequently as we age. Before age 45, osteoarthritis occurs more frequently in males. After age 55 years, it occurs more frequently in females.
What causes Osteoarthritis?
Primary osteoarthritis is mostly related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses. In advanced cases, there is a total loss of the cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints. Loss of cartilage cushion causes friction between the bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the joints. Osteoarthritis occasionally can be found in multiple members of the same family, implying an heredity (genetic) basis for this condition.
Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Aside from weight reduction and avoiding activities that exert excessive stress on the joint cartilage, there is no specific treatment to halt cartilage degeneration or to repair damaged cartilage in osteoarthritis. The goal of treatment in osteoarthritis is to reduce joint pain and inflammation while improving and maintaining joint function. Some patients with osteoarthritis have minimal or no pain, and may not need treatment. Others may benefit from conservative measures such as rest, exercise, weight reduction, physical and occupational therapy, and mechanical support devices. These measures are particularly important when large, weight-bearing joints are involved, such as the hips or knees. In fact, even modest weight reduction can help to decrease symptoms of osteoarthritis of the large joints, such as the knees and hips.
What causes Osteoarthritis?
Primary osteoarthritis is mostly related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses. In advanced cases, there is a total loss of the cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints. Loss of cartilage cushion causes friction between the bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the joints. Osteoarthritis occasionally can be found in multiple members of the same family, implying an heredity (genetic) basis for this condition.
Treatment of Osteoarthritis
Aside from weight reduction and avoiding activities that exert excessive stress on the joint cartilage, there is no specific treatment to halt cartilage degeneration or to repair damaged cartilage in osteoarthritis. The goal of treatment in osteoarthritis is to reduce joint pain and inflammation while improving and maintaining joint function. Some patients with osteoarthritis have minimal or no pain, and may not need treatment. Others may benefit from conservative measures such as rest, exercise, weight reduction, physical and occupational therapy, and mechanical support devices. These measures are particularly important when large, weight-bearing joints are involved, such as the hips or knees. In fact, even modest weight reduction can help to decrease symptoms of osteoarthritis of the large joints, such as the knees and hips.
Psoratic Arthritis: What is it?
Psoriatic Arthritis is different from Rheumatoid arthritis.
The association between psoriasis and arthritis has been recognised for many years. Approximately 5-10% of persons with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis. This form of arthritis is similar to, but distant from, rheumatoid arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis was identified as a separate from of arthritis in part through the discovery of the rheumatoid factor. This factor is an anti-gamma globulin antibody found in the blood of 70% of rheumatoid arthritis patients, but absent from the blood of most patients who have psoriatic arthritis. The conclusion that psoriatic arthritis is distant from rheumatoid arthritis is further supported by other clinical signs identified in recent years.
Symptoms
The initial symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are like those of other types of arthritis. There can generally be discomfort, pain, throbbing, swelling of single or multiple joints and tenderness in any joint. Some joints are particularly apt to be involved, including the last joint in the fingers or toes, sacrum (lower back), wrists, knees, or ankles. Inflammation in the joints may stimulate nerve endings causing pain. Exactly how this happens and how it relates to psoriasis on the skin is unknown. Other symptoms include morning stiffness and fatigue. Some persons will also develop inflammatory eye diseases, including conjunctivitis. Nail changes may also occur.
Symptoms
The initial symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are like those of other types of arthritis. There can generally be discomfort, pain, throbbing, swelling of single or multiple joints and tenderness in any joint. Some joints are particularly apt to be involved, including the last joint in the fingers or toes, sacrum (lower back), wrists, knees, or ankles. Inflammation in the joints may stimulate nerve endings causing pain. Exactly how this happens and how it relates to psoriasis on the skin is unknown. Other symptoms include morning stiffness and fatigue. Some persons will also develop inflammatory eye diseases, including conjunctivitis. Nail changes may also occur.
