– What You Need to Know

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis (inflammation of joints). It is regarded as a degenerative disease of the joints. In some cases, it is also referred to as Wear and Tear arthritis which usually occurs in the weight-bearing and most used joints such as the hips, knees, and joints in the hands.

In this condition, the cartilage present in the joint gets on a decomposing stage, and the bone that underlies starts changing. These are degenerative in nature and progress over time. It occurs in 13% females and 10% males.

 

The Signs and Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis comes with different signs and symptoms, some of which are included in the following list.

  1. Ache or pain
  2. Stiffness in the affected joint
  3. Decreased motion range and flexibility
  4. Swelling in the affected area

In severe cases, the joint becomes totally unable to move, leading to disability.

The Causes of Osteoarthritis

Some of the causes of the condition include joint injury, overuse, age, gender, obesity, genetics, and race. The most probable cause is injury and overuse due to repetitive stress on the body joint or a sports injury which may increase the overall damage of the joints, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis. Obesity also plays a role in osteoarthritis as the body weight puts a lot of burden on weight-bearing joints such as knees and hip joints.

The Treatment Options for Osteoarthritis

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen are used to provide relief from the pain the condition causes to the affected individual. Chondroitin and glucosamine, on another note, are some dietary supplements available to provide support in the generative process of the affected joints, tendons, and cartilage. What’s more, corticosteroids such as prednisone and cortisone are administered to the patient showing a reduction in the swelling and the suppression of the inflammatory response of the body resulting in anti-inflammation.

Creams and ointments called counterirritants are also used to provide relief from pain and swelling of the affected area. Some of the examples of these counterirritants include capsaicin and menthol

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, telemedicine makes it possible for you to get the care you deserve. Schedule a virtual consultation with a Telakai Health online Provider and get on the road to recovery. Schedule your visit today.