Osteoarthritis: The “Wear and Tear” Arthritis That Slows You Down

Are you complaining about joint pain, stiffness or difficulty walking because it feels like your knees will give up? If so, you may be suffering from osteoarthritis – the most common form of arthritis. Many people think joint pain is simply a normal part of aging. The truth is that osteoarthritis can be managed, and early treatment can significantly improve quality of life. Let’s talk about what osteoarthritis really is and how you can protect you joints!

For starters, we must know what osteoarthritis is – it occurs when the protective cartilage in the joints gradually breaks down. Cartilage acts like a shock absorber, allowing bones to glide smoothly during movement. When it wears away you may feel bones starting to rub against each other, swelling of the knees and lastly joint movement becomes painful even becoming stiff. The joints that are commonly affected are the weight-bearing such as knees, hips, hands and spine. According to the World Health Organization, osteoarthritis affects over 528million individuals globally!

Many patients ignore the early symptoms. However, recognizing them early helps prevent worsening joint damage. Typical early symptoms include joint pain or after movement, morning stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes, joint tenderness when pressing the area, reduced flexibility and difficulty bending the joints, a grinding sensation when moving the joint (crepitation) and bone spurs that feel like hard lumps around the joint. In my clinic, the knee joint is the most frequently affected area.

Doc Damian, how can we know if I am at risk to develop osteoarthritis? Several factors increase the risk of developing this condition. Age is one of the non-modifiable risk factors for osteoarthritis – cartilage naturally becomes thinner as we age. Most patients start noticing symptoms after the age 40 to 50. Obesity is another important risk factor since extra body weight places significant stress on weight-bearing joints, especially the knees. Research publish in Arthritis Foundation shows that for every extra pound of body weight adds about four pounds of pressure on the knees. Previous injuries may also contribute to developing osteoarthritis since this leads to early joint degeneration. Some individuals also inherit the tendency to develop osteoarthritis. And lastly, as the title of this article says wear and tear, repetitive joint use will hasten osteoarthritis specially for jobs or activities that involve frequent kneeling, squatting, or lifting heavy objects.

Can osteoarthritis be treated doc? While osteoarthritis cannot be completely reversed, many treatments can slow its progression and can reduce pain. Lifestyle changes such as weight reduction, low-impact exercise (walking, swimming and cycling) and strengthening muscles around the joint is a proven way to help slow down osteoarthritis and eventually reduce the pain. However, some patients cannot really tolerate the pain, so us doctors, we prescribed pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications and topical creams – but it is wise to consult your friendly doctor prior to self-medications since some of these medications can affect your stomach and kidneys. For patients that can tolerate exercises and activities that can bear the pain, we recommend physical therapy and rehabilitation to strengthen the muscles and improve joint stability. However, for severe cases, joint replacement surgery may be recommended to improve the quality of life.

Since we now know the impact of osteoarthritis in our lives, we must protect our joints. Small habits like maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, avoiding prolonged kneeling or squatting, strengthening muscles around the joints, and treating joint injuries early can help maintain our joints it tip-top condition.

Always remember my dear friends, movement is medicine for joints!

Joint pain should never be ignored or dismissed as normal aging process. With proper diagnoses and treatment, patients can still enjoy an active and comfortable life. If you are experiencing persistent knee or joint pain, consult your friendly internal medicine doctor, that is me – Doc Damian!