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The most common arthritis is osteoarthritis. Wear and tear on joint cartilage causes bones to rub together when you use it. Healthcare professionals will help you find a treatment combination to manage your symptoms.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Generally, arthritis means joint inflammation. The type of arthritis that most people have is osteoarthritis, also known as "wear-and-tear arthritis." Osteoarthritis (OA) doesn't usually spread to other joints unless there was an injury, too much stress, or a problem with the cartilage. Normal joints have rubbery cartilage covering bone ends. It reduces joint friction and acts as a "shock absorber." When compressed, normal cartilage changes shape, making it shock-absorbing.

Osteoarthritis stiffens joint cartilage, making it more vulnerable to damage. Some cartilage may wear away, reducing its shock-absorbing ability. Tendons and ligaments stretch, which hurts, as cartilage breaks down. Bones may rub together if the condition gets worse. 

Symptoms

Joint pain and stiffness are osteoarthritis' main symptoms. The joint hurts more when moved or at night. Your joints may feel stiff after rest, but moving usually relieves this. Symptoms may vary unexpectedly. Or your symptoms may vary by activity. 

Sometimes the joint swells. In finger joints, swelling can be hard and bumpy because of extra bone growth, or it can be soft because the joint lining gets thicker and more fluid builds up. The joint may move slowly and make grating or crackling sounds. This is crepitus. Joint muscles may appear thin or wasted. Sometimes the joint gives way due to weakened muscles or a less stable joint structure.

Causes

Some factors that may cause OA include: 

• Age: Age increases OA risk, and symptoms usually appear in people over 50. 

• Injured joint: A bone fracture, cartilage tear, or ligament tear can cause OA faster than without an injury.

• Overuse: OA can result from repetitive joint use in work or sports.

• Obesity: Weight puts stress on joints, and fat cells cause inflammation.

• Skeletal Abnormalities: Misalignment of bones or joints can accelerate OA.

• Weak Muscles:  Poor muscle support can cause joint misalignment and OA.

• Genetics: People with OA in their families are more likely to get it.

• Gender: Men are less likely to develop OA than women.

• Environmental Factors: Occupation, physical activity, quadriceps strength, prior joint injury, obesity, diet, sex hormones, and bone density are modifiable environmental risk factors.

Osteoarthritis Stages

Progressive osteoarthritis has four stages. This may depend on how bad your symptoms are and how much damage you have to your joints and cartilage. The four osteoarthritis stages are:

• Stage 1 (Mild): Early osteoarthritis symptoms, but healthy cartilage.

• In Stage 2 (moderate), symptoms may be acute. Your cartilage is worn.

• In stage 3 (Advanced), osteoarthritis symptoms may persist, especially when weight is applied to the joint. Nearly all joint cartilage is gone.

• Stage 4 (severe): The worst osteoarthritis. Some of the signs that someone has this condition are severe pain, stiffness, swelling, a smaller range of motion, unstable joints, muscle weakness, bone spurs, and deformities in the joints.

• In stage 4 osteoarthritis, surgery may be needed to make it easier to move, do things, and enjoy life more.

Osteoarthritis Treatment

Exercise, weight loss if needed, medications, physical therapy with muscle-strengthening exercises, hot and cold compresses to the painful joint, joint fluid removal, medication injections, and supportive devices like crutches or canes are used to treat osteoarthritis. Surgery may relieve pain when other treatments fail. Age, activities, occupation, health, medical history, osteoarthritis location, and severity will determine treatment.

Osteoarthritis Medicines 

Beginning osteoarthritis medication with over-the-counter painkillers is common such as Ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen. Consult your pain doc in Dallas before taking OTC medications for more than 10 days. Taking them longer increases side effects. If over-the-counter painkillers don't work, your doctor may prescribe a stronger anti-inflammatory or other medication. 

To relieve pain, creams, rubs, and sprays can be applied to affected skin. Steroids can be injected directly into the joint for people with persistent pain, despite pills or creams. Multiple injections a year may accelerate joint damage, according to some experts. Some osteoarthritis patients find the best pain relief for osteoarthritis at a pain clinic in Dallas through hyaluronic acid injections. Some doctors prescribe narcotics for severe osteoarthritis pain when other treatments fail.

Alternative Therapies

Glucosamine and chondroitin may relieve knee pain in some osteoarthritis patients, but recent research has cast doubt on their efficacy. There is no evidence that glucosamine rebuilds cartilage. SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) may also help osteoarthritis. Research suggests it may be as effective as anti-inflammatory drugs. SAM-e is found in your body and as a supplement. It supports cell membranes. Hormone production and regulation are also helped. Tell pain management in Dallas about any supplements you're taking because they can interact with medications and cause side effects.

Some osteoarthritis patients experience immediate pain relief with acupuncture. Europeans take avocado-soybean unsaponifiables for knee and hip arthritis. A study suggests they reduce inflammation and slow joint damage. Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce pain and improve mobility. Fatty fish and fish oil supplements contain them.

Surgery for Arthritis

Surgery may be necessary if osteoarthritis pain is uncontrolled or prevents normal activities.

There are several osteoarthritis surgeries offered by Premier Pain Centers. These include: 

• Arthroscopy: This procedure removes damaged cartilage or tissues. Most people do it on their knees and shoulders. Recent research casts doubt on its osteoarthritis benefits.

• Joint Replacement: Surgery replaces damaged joints with artificial ones. Joint replacement surgery is recommended when joint pain severely impairs function and quality of life. Even under ideal conditions, surgery cannot restore normal joint motion, but movement and function are greatly improved. An artificial joint reduces pain. Hip and knee replacements are most common. Artificial joints can replace shoulders, fingers, elbows, and ankles for severe pain that has not responded to other treatments.

• Joint Fusion: After removing the damaged joint, the bones on each side are fused. In areas where joint replacement fails, this is done more. Contact Dallas pain clinic to determine if any of these treatments are right for you.

How to Avoid Osteoarthritis?

Preventing osteoarthritis requires good overall health, including:

• Avoiding tobacco products.

• Physical activity with low impact.

• Following a healthy diet.

• Always buckle up.

• Wearing protective gear for any activity, sport, or job.

• Getting regular checkups and reporting joint changes to your pain specialist near me.

Conclusion