Osteoarthritis, a Degenerative Joint Disorder

• Arthritis is a term which denotes inflammation of joint leading to pain, swelling and limitation of joint movement.

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder which mainly affects geriatric age group causing immense discomfort in the form of pain with limitation of ambulation.

• The bone ends forming the joint are covered by a cartilage called as articular cartilage. There is also fluid in the joint cavity referred to as synovial fluid. All this leads to good lubrication and thus smooth gliding of bones within joint space.

• With increasing age the characteristics of the synovial fluid change and there is attending loss of articular cartilage.

• All this leads to inflammation within joint space thus causing pain which in turn limits a person's walking capability.

• Most common joint involvement in OA is knee but hips are also involved.

• Orthopaedic surgeon will examine the patient clinically and ask for specific x-rays to look for loss of joint space, osteophyte formation, sclerosis under the subchondral bone etc.

Management of Osteoarthritis:

• Maintain an active lifestyle in the form of morning walks.

• A short course of anti-inflammatory medications can be tried but that depends upon your other co-morbid conditions (never take pain killers indiscriminately and never without advice of your attending orthopaedic surgeon).

• Intensive physical therapy initially under supervision of a trained physiotherapist.

• Medications including I/A (intra-articular) injections and other oral medications depending upon your examination findings.

• Maintaining adequate calcium and vitamin D metabolism is also important.

• Surgical treatment is by osteotomies and joint replacement surgery, if other alternatives have failed.

Consult an orthopaedician and traumatologist online for queries regarding pain in the joints --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/orthopaedician-and-traumatologist