Osteoarthritis
Summary
Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) is a form of
arthritis (inflammation of a joint) caused by the degeneration of cartilage.
To some degree, osteoarthritis can be reversed by diet changes, but any
deformity that has been created will last forever, unless surgery can
help to correct it.
Pain relief may become necessary for functioning on a daily basis.
Cartilage serves an important role in joint function. Its gel-like nature
protects the joints, by acting as a shock absorber. Without the cartilage
in the joint, bone literally rubs against bone leading to pain, deformity,
inflammation, and limitation of motion in the joint.
The onset of osteoarthritis can be subtle. Morning joint stiffness is
often the first symptom. As the disease progresses, there is pain with
use of the involved joint that is made worse by prolonged activity, and
relieved by rest. There is usually local tenderness, soft tissue swelling,
joint crepitus (cracking sounds), swelling, restricted mobility, and bony
nodules.
X-ray findings show narrowing of the joint space (the area between the
bones taken up by cartilage). The weight-bearing joints such as the knees,
hips, and spine as well as the hands are the joints most often affected
with the degenerative changes of osteoarthritis. These joints are under
greater stress because of weight and use.
Although osteoarthritis normally accompanies aging, osteoarthritic cartilage
appears to differ in its chemical composition from "healthy"
aged cartilage. Many experts now believe that osteoarthritis is a disorder
caused by a genetic susceptibility combined with injury to the joint.
Primary and Secondary Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is divided into two categories, primary and secondary.
In primary osteoarthritis, the degenerative "wear-and-tear"
process occurs after a person turns forty years of age. The cumulative
effects of decades of use leads to the degenerative changes by stressing
the collagen matrix of the cartilage. Stress on the cartilage results
in the release of enzymes which destroy cartilage components.
With aging, the ability to restore and manufacture normal cartilage
structures decreases. So, what I am saying is that aging is the primary
cause of osteoarthritis. But, just because you may be getting older doesn't
mean that you have to suffer from the pain of osteoarthritis.
Secondary osteoarthritis is associated with some predisposing factor
which is responsible for the degenerative changes. Predisposing factors
in secondary osteoarthritis include: inherited abnormalities in joint
structure or function; trauma (fractures along joint surfaces, surgery,
etc.); presence of abnormal cartilage; and previous inflammatory disease
of joint (rheumatoid arthritis, gout, etc.).
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