What the heck is Osteoarthritis?

by Gray Kimbrell

We all stop being spring chickens at some point.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in weight bearing joints. Osteo means bone, arthroid means joint or articulation and it means inflammation. So all this "medical" word means is joint inflammation.

Cartilage is a protein substance that cushions the ends of the bones of joint surfaces, and provides a frictionless medium for the bones to slide on one another along with the synovial fluid that nourishes the cartilage. The joint lining, or synovium, which encapsulates the joint and contains the synovial fluid, can become inflamed as well, causing cartilage breakdown.

OA is also known as degenerative arthritis, hypertrophic arthritis and degenerative joint disease. Of the almost 100 different types of arthritis it is by far the most common, affecting up to 23 million people in the U.S. alone. OA occurs most frequently as we age. Before age 45 it occurs most often in men, and after age 55 most commonly in women. Osteoarthritis has a predilection for the weight bearing joints: hips, knees, hands, the joint of the big toe and spine. The ankles, wrists, shoulders and elbows are rarely affected, except when due to trauma.

Cases of OA that have no known cause are called primary Osteoarthritis. When the cause is  known, it is referred to as secondary arthritis. primary arthritis is normally due to wear and tear on the joints, as we get older.

As we age, the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein make up of cartilage begins to break down. Due to repetitive use of the joints over the years, the smooth surface of the cartilage begins to degenerate and the surface roughens, increasing friction and causing further degeneration that irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing joint 'pain. In extreme cases there may be a total loss of cartilage, resulting in bone rubbing on bone which further increases inflammation pain and loss of joint mobility. Inflammation of the cartilage can and does initiate the growth of bone spurs around the joint, known as osteophytes.
Secondary arthritis is the result of another condition or disease, such as obesity, repeated trauma or joint surgery. Obesity causes Osteoarthritis because of the increased stress on the joints. Each pound gained adds three pounds of pressure to the knee, and six pounds of pressure to the hip. Repeated trauma such as is found in athletes also contributes to OA.

Interestingly enough, it has recently been shown that long distance running may not be a contributing factor, but many longtime runners do have chronic inflammatory knee pain. Whether this is due to inflammation of the tendons_____

Common sighs and symptoms of OA include joint soreness after activity overuse, joint pain in the morning that goes away quickly, or pain that is worse at night after activity. Other signs include stiffness in the neck and back, or the joint at the base of the big toe. With the knee, it may be painful going up and down stairs, or cause a catch in the knee.

Although there is no cure for OA there are ways to manage and control it. Glucosamine is widely used and prescribed by the medical and complementary medicine people. In theory it rejuvenates the cartilage and prevents further loss. However, the jury is still out on this cure. There is no conclusive evidence that it does what it says it will, but it won't hurt you. Some individuals believe that it helps, and some don't. Since it is a neutriceutical and not regulated by the FDA, the quality of the product varies widely. Buy a pharmaceutical grade, , not the cheapest. You want to know that what is printed on the bottle is really what's in the pill. It is scientifically proven that Omega three and six essential fatty acids such as those found in fish oil will help break the inflammatory cycle and this would be beneficial.

Chiropractic care may help, as the goal of the work is to normalize joint range of motion. Enhanced joint mechanics may help to slow down the process of further degeneration. Ibuprofen and aspirin may be used to reduce swelling and inflammation, thereby inhibiting pain, especially for those with moderate to severe OA. Beware of the side effects of these drugs and never take more than the recommended dosage. Prescription anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed for those with moderate to severe pain as well. Cartilage replacement and repair is done in some cases but is still in its infancy.

In sum, osteoarthritis is something many of us live with. with conservative management one should be able to carry on with activities of daily living, given some lifestyle modifications. A good diet, exercise, conservative medical care and natural anti-inflammatories wil go a long way toward managing osteoarthritis and allow you to do what you like.

Remember, life is movement!