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Osteoarthritis: A Look at a Very Common Disease

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It affects about one in ten people all over the world -- about 20 million individuals in the United States have the disease. It can arise in both men and women and usually appears around the mid-fifties. It's a degenerative disease; after long years of wear and tear, the cartilage between the joints erodes and the bones start rubbing together when you move, causing pain.

Osteoarthritis symptoms appear differently in different people. Some people experience continuous pain while others experience only periodic flare-ups. It's one of the leading causes of disability in the United States, greatly impacting the work force and is one of the factors that determine whether institutionalization is the best option for an elderly patient. Some people feel a more severe level of pain during cold weather, and others feel worse at different times of the day -- either in the morning or in the evening. A condition called crepitus -- or a grinding and creaking sound -- can also accompany the disease. In addition, the joints and the skin above them can feel warm and tender to the touch.

The disease can affect various joints, but afflicts those in the knee, hip, feet, hands, and spine. It can be caused by various factors. Obesity is one, since excess weight contributes to the degradation of cartilage. Suffering a joint injury can also leave a person predisposed to the disease because trauma can also cause the cartilage between the joints to break down.

A person who starts to experience these symptoms should seek medical help immediately. A physician will usually prescribe medication to provide relief from pain, as well as to reduce inflammation. Medications such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) are used by many for pain relief, but remember that these medications can have side effects for a number of people. For people experiencing intolerable pain, doctors may inject pain-relieving agents directly into the joint, while others undergo surgery to replace their diseased joints.

You might find it helpful to take dietary supplements, such as chondroitin and glucosamine, which can help slow down or even halt the disease from getting worse. While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, your doctor can advise you of ways to keep the pain to a manageable level, to try to prevent the progression of the disease, and to have a satisfying quality of life.