OA and pain management
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects the joints.
It can be called several different names;
Hypertrophic osteoarthritis; Osteoarthrosis; Degenerative joint disease; DJD; OA; Arthritis – osteoarthritis
In most cases the cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, generally it is related to aging, but metabolic, genetic, chemical, and mechanical factors can also lead to OA.
It has also been linked to chronic [untreated or treated too late] Lyme Disease. Which is how I came to have osteoarthritis in my knees, back, elbows, hands and feet [probably my ankles as well]
The symptoms of osteoarthritis usually appear in middle age and almost everyone has at least one affected joint by age 70. Before age 55, the condition occurs equally in both sexes. However, after 55 it is more common in women.
[I am 49 years old and have had OA for 13 years]
The disease causes the cushioning (cartilage) between the bone joints to wear away, leading to pain and stiffness. As the disease gets worse, the cartilage disappears and the bone rubs on bone. Bony spurs usually form around the joint. This can cause clicking or knocking of the bones which is audible as the oa patient moves about.
Osteoarthritis can be primary or secondary.
Primary OA occurs without any type of injury or obvious cause. And is associated with aging.
Secondary OA is osteoarthritis due to another disease or condition. The most common causes of secondary OA are metabolic conditions, such as acromegaly, problems with anatomy (for example, being bow-legged), injury, or inflammatory disorders such as septic arthritis and Lyme Disease.
Acromegaly is a chronic metabolic disorder in which there is too much growth hormone and the body tissues gradually enlarge.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- Deep aching joint pain that gets worse after exercise or putting weight on it and is relieved by rest
- Grating of the joint with motion
- Joint pain in rainy weather
- Joint swelling
- Limited movement
- Morning stiffness
Some people might not have symptoms at all or attribute the mild pain to the fact that they are aging and do not comment on the pain to their health care provider.
How do you know if you have OA? Are there any conclusive medical tests?
A physical exam can show limited range of motion, grating of a joint with motion, joint swelling, and tenderness.
An x-ray of affected joints will show loss of the joint space, and in advanced cases, wearing down of the ends of the bone and bone spurs.
In my case, I have severe degeneration and many bone spurs in both knees. On good days I walk with knee braces and a cane, on bad days I use a wheelchair.
