Common Conditions: Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It causes pain, swelling, and reduced motion in your joints. It can occur in any joint, but usually it affects your hands, knees, hips or spine.
Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage in your joints. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage absorbs the shock of movement. When you lose cartilage, your bones rub together. Over time, this rubbing can permanently damage the joint.
Risk factors for osteoarthritis include : Being overweight, Getting older, Injuring a joint
No single test can diagnose osteoarthritis. Most doctors use several methods, including medical history, a physical exam, x-rays, or lab tests.
Osteoarthritis can cause severe joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. In some cases it also causes reduced function and disability; some people are no longer able to do daily tasks and, in some cases, are not able to work. Severe cases may require joint replacement surgery, particularly for knee or hip OA.
In addition to medical treatment, people with OA can gain confidence in managing their condition with self-management strategies proven to reduce pain and disability, so they can pursue the activities important to them. People with OA can relieve pain and improve function of your joints by learning and using five simple and effective arthritis management strategies.
Public Domain Information from https://medlineplus.gov/osteoarthritis.html and https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm
Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage in your joints. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage absorbs the shock of movement. When you lose cartilage, your bones rub together. Over time, this rubbing can permanently damage the joint.
Risk factors for osteoarthritis include : Being overweight, Getting older, Injuring a joint
No single test can diagnose osteoarthritis. Most doctors use several methods, including medical history, a physical exam, x-rays, or lab tests.
Osteoarthritis can cause severe joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. In some cases it also causes reduced function and disability; some people are no longer able to do daily tasks and, in some cases, are not able to work. Severe cases may require joint replacement surgery, particularly for knee or hip OA.
In addition to medical treatment, people with OA can gain confidence in managing their condition with self-management strategies proven to reduce pain and disability, so they can pursue the activities important to them. People with OA can relieve pain and improve function of your joints by learning and using five simple and effective arthritis management strategies.
Public Domain Information from https://medlineplus.gov/osteoarthritis.html and https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm