Osteoarthritis, one of the most common forms of arthritis, results from the degeneration and eventual loss of cartilage present in the joints. The joints of various body parts such as fingers, hands, feet, spine, knees and hips are affected by this disease. The symptoms of osteoarthritis may range from mild or severe and may vary from patient to patient. Pain, swelling, tenderness and stiffness of the joints are the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are variable depending on the organ affected. Generally, the weight-bearing joints such as hips, knees and spine are more susceptible for this disease. The symptoms are usually mild in the early stage of disease as this disease gradually progresses. With the progression of disease, there may be degeneration and total loss of cartilage which results in pain, discomfort, swelling and stiffness in the joints especially early in the morning. While some people experience contraction in the tendons and muscle spasm. If the disease worsens, there may be development of some deformities in the joints giving rise to restriction in mobility.
One of the significant symptoms of osteoarthritis is grinding or cracking noise within the joint. Due to loss of cartilage, there is friction between the bones resulting in the cracking noise. There may be formation of bony spurs around the joints due to which the bones rub on each other and create a creaking noise.
In osteoarthritis of hips, there is pain in the inner thigh, groin or buttock. Patient with knee osteoarthritis may experience the catching or grating sensation and weakness in the thighs. In case of osteoarthritis of fingers, there is swelling, redness and tenderness in the finger joints which are enlarged and create a gnarled appearance due to the bony growth. Besides this, in case of osteoarthritis of spine, there is slow deterioration of disks between the bones along the spine which results in pain and stiffness in neck and back.
It is very important to relieve the osteoarthritis pain to maintain the joint function and quality of life. As obesity is one of risk factors of osteoarthritis, weight control is essential to avoid excessive stress on the joints. Healthy body weight can be maintained by balanced diet and exercise. Your diet should be rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains that provide vitamin and minerals. Besides that, some exercises such as swimming, biking and walking are beneficial to strengthen the muscles around the joint and make the joints more stable.
Few changes in lifestyle and modifications in daily activities may help to manage the arthritis pain. In addition to that, application of heat or cold is also found to be advantageous. Besides these self-care measures, the medications such as analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, some natural remedies and therapies like yoga, acupuncture and massage therapy are also helpful to relieve pain and reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
