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St. Louis Osteoarthritis Treatment

Osteoarthritis, also known as "degenerative arthritis," or "degenerative joint disease," is one of the most common types of arthritis, affecting approximately 20 million individuals in the US. Osteoarthritis affects about half of the population 65 or older, making it a very prevalent disease in older age groups. As patients' ages increase, so does the prevalence of the disease. Osteoarthritis causes problems with day-to-day activities that should be simple: walking up the stairs, bending down or gardening.

Osteoarthritis is referred to as "wear-and-tear arthritis" because it is a degenerative disease that gets progressively worse with age. Genetics typically plays a part in patients developing osteoarthritis, as well as obesity, joint injuries or trauma, and certain daily activities (farmers and mill workers tend to develop osteoarthritis more frequently).

Osteoarthritis is the most common indication for performing a total hip replacement or total knee replacement. After the age of 65 nearly 1/3 of individuals develop knee osteoarthritis. Women tend to experience osteoarthritis more frequently in their hands, feet and knees.

Causes of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease. As stated above, osteoarthritis risk factors include genetics, obesity, exposure to certain activities or occupations, hormones, weak thigh muscles, as well as other diseases which cause cartilage structures to change. Exercise is also thought to increase likelihood of osteoarthritis, with "mechanical stress" being the ultimate cause behind developing osteoarthritis. This mechanical stress of the joints includes injury, putting too much weight on the joint, weakening muscles supporting the joint, and impairment of peripheral nerves.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Symptoms of osteoarthritis are similar to rheumatoid arthritis, including joint pain, swelling, tenderness, warm sensation, locked joints, and an extremely limited range of motion. In some cases the joints affected by osteoarthritis can become filled with fluid. Osteoarthritis can also cause noisy "cracking" sounds whenever the affected joints are touched or moved. Other symptoms include muscle spasms and contractions in the associated tendons.

Because osteoarthritis has no pathological definition, there is no accepted laboratory test to diagnose osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is typically diagnosed by a physician during examination and confirmed through x-ray scans of the offending joints. Orthopedic physicians will look for fluid in the synovial joint, swelling, decreased amounts of cartilage surrounding the bone, and narrowing bone joint spaces and bone spurs.

Back to arthritis.
Learn about rheumatoid arthritis.

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