After years of increasing pain and stiffness in your joints, after ordinary tasks like making your bed in the morning had become almost impossible, you finally spoke to your doctor. When you heard that your problem had a name – osteoarthritis, or OA – you weren’t surprised. In fact, you were a bit relieved.
But now you want to know what OA will do to your body, to your lifestyle, and how this disease may affect your future. You want to know what you can do to make yourself feel better, and to keep your OA from getting worse.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis the most common form of arthritis, affecting about 27 million Americans. OA symptoms usually include pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. OA can make daily activities more difficult. Your fingers may feel stiff when you try to grasp a pen. Your lower back may ache as you lean over to open a drawer. Your knees may hurt when you bend down to pick up your morning newspaper.
Where Does Osteoarthritis Strike?
OA affects joints, places where bones come together and move in various directions. OA typically affects the following joints:
- Neck
- Spine
- Hips
- Hands
- Knees
- Ankles
Other joints may be affected as well. Just because you have OA in one particular joint doesn’t mean you’ll develop it in others. But osteoarthritis symptoms may worsen – increasing your pain and decreasing your ability to perform daily tasks – if you don’t address them with treatment and prevention strategies. Luckily, there are many osteoarthritis treatments available to manage pain and stiffness and improve flexibility. You are in charge of your OA prognosis.
What Happens in Osteoarthritis?
OA occurs when parts of a joint, including cartilage, bones, fluid or its membrane lining (synovium), change and break down, usually over years. Cartilage and joint fluid cushion and lubricate a joint, easing the motion of bones. When these joint components break down, movement becomes difficult or painful. In OA, joints can feel stiff. Each movement can be painful. Joints can swell, further hindering movement.
As OA worsens over time, bones may break down and develop growths called spurs. Bits of bone or cartilage may even chip off and float around in the joint cavity. Synovial fluid can diminish in amount or quality.
In the final stages of OA, cushioning cartilage erodes, inflaming the lining of your joint. As a result, chemicals called cytokines (inflammatory proteins) or enzymes are released, causing more pain, swelling and damage.
chair from neuropathy where they said I would never walk agin proved them wrong once again. I choose pool therpy which got me
up and walking sure fooled the Medical profession, Back to the Y and sure is helping my arthitic joints an love it met lots of great people and sure beats sitting home being depressed. Find a social life and the y It is great
That being said, I find that when I drastically cut back on sugar and/or alcohol intake I have much less inflamation. So, that is what I am now working on. Sugar addiction!. Try it. Also, ice and then heat the affected areas. I am 57 years old and believe my OA came from years of being ignorant of how to be gentle w/my body and the joints are just wearing out from hard physical work (landscaping). Be well everyone. Try cutting back on sugar..
Join a water aerobics class! You will get your zest for life back again. The classes are fun, you'll meet great people, and you can do things in the water that you can't do on land, like run and jump, and there is no impact on your joints.
Norma in Chicago
Espero su ayuda mil gracias.
Mirta Bussey.
I have had joint pain since pre-school days. "Growing Pains" the dr said.
I take Prednisone and hydroxyquloroquine. I also take water aerobics three times a week. I have an electric scooter. I have had the 'chicken stuff' injected into my knees. All of it seems to help some. It makes it possible for me to lead an independent enjoyable life.
I also have an electric blanket. I turn it on high Every night, other wise the pain won't let me go to sleep.
I have heart and lung involvement, I think that is what won my Soc Sec Disability while I was in my 50s. I had not worked for 2 yrs at the time. I simply couldn't do it. I am in my mid 70s now and feel better than I have for years.
I am sure the water exercise helps as much as anything, except maybe the scooter.
I also take Methotrexate with Prednisone for RA. When I first started taking the Meth I would be sick for at least 3 days. I then began taking folic acid to help with the nausea. It really helps.
Good luck.
Recently began taking Methotexrate which is leaving me down for the count the day I take it. I am wondering if it is safe to take MSM with it (hoping to discontinue the Meth).
Would like to not take the Methotexrate at all but pain is excruciating at times. Rheumatologist had prescribed other meds with really crappy side effects (tremors, allergic reactions, etc.). I fought against this med mainly because of all the side effects associated with it but he felt we really didn't have much more of a choice- due to my age (41) he is trying to slow the progression of the OA. Now I notice that the side of my right toe area is bulging out and is quite painful as well. Argh.
Anyone else taking a combo of these two?
Thank you all for sharing your stories. It IS nice to know there are people who understand...
Since the mid 1990's I have watched a progressive appearance of arthritis starting in my knees and now affecting my feet, both elbows and shoulders, neck, and hands. I have continued a regular exercise routine, especially lap swimming. I used a condroiton-glucosamine supplement for about 4 years, but then stopped. I also was shown some physical therapy exercises to strengthen my legs. Orthopaedic shoes were recommended.
Recently, I started water aerobics. An hour of intense, varied exercise with the support of the pool water to cushion the joints has given me a chance to exercise painlessly and feel like I'm getting a good workout. A doctor dealing with knee replacement, after I decided to postpone the operation, gave me strong advise to never stop moving. When movement is painful and it is easier to avoid it, we are set up for more pain by inaction. After excessive work in the garden or when a lot of walking is required, I use an ensid like Ibeprophin which reduces the inflamation for a day or two and usually more is not necessary. I am also using Omega 3 supplements, green tea, garlic, and other anti-inflamatory foods and avoiding others. My efforts to loose weight have not been very successful, but would probably help a lot.I hope this will encourage others to look at the possible ways of dealing with osteoarthritis.
BOTH LEFT & RIGHT HIPS ARE NOW BONE ON BONE,
iN LAST 2 YRS., WENT FROM WALKING WITH LIMP,
USING A CANE, NOW A WALKER & NOW ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE ... EXTREME PAIN TRING TO GET UP STAIRS & SITTING UP RIGHT, TURNING IN BED.
gAINING WEIGHT BECAUSE i CAN'T DO WALKS, RIDE BIKES, AND HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE A SPECIALIST SINCE DISABILITY DOESN'T GIVE INSURANCES FOR 24 MONTHS, THE PROGRESSION IS SO BAD & FAST . PAIN IN GROIN, DOWN LEGS,
NOW KNEES, COULD IT BE MORE THAN JUST BONE DISEASE?
Further, how nerves are saved in neck or spinal bone replacement?
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