Causes of osteoarthritis:

As part of normal life, your joints are exposed to a constant low level of damage. In most cases, your body repairs the damage itself and you do not experience any symptoms.

But in osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones breaks down, causing pain, swelling and problems moving the joint. Bony growths can develop, and the area can become swollen and red.

The exact cause is not known, but several things are thought to increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis, including:

• Joint injury – overusing your joint when it has not had enough time to heal after an injury or operation.
• Other conditions (secondary arthritis) – osteoarthritis can happen in joints severely damaged by a previous or existing condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout
• Age – your risk of developing the condition increases as you get older.
• Family history – osteoarthritis may run in families, although studies have not identified a single gene responsible.
• Obesity – being obese puts excess strain on your joints, particularly those that bear most of your weight, such as your knees and hips.
• Being a woman – osteoarthritis is more common in women than men.

Symptoms:

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness in your joints, which can make it difficult to move the affected joints and do certain activities.

The symptoms may come and go in episodes, which can be related to your activity levels and even the weather. In more severe cases, the symptoms can be continuous.

You should see a Specialist if you have persistent symptoms of osteoarthritis so they can confirm the diagnosis and prescribe any necessary treatment.

Other symptoms you may notice include:

• Joint tenderness
• Increased pain and stiffness when you have not moved your joints for a while.
• Joints appearing slightly larger or more “knobbly” than usual.
• A grating or crackling sound or sensation in your joints
• Limited range of movement in your joints
• Weakness and muscle wasting (loss of muscle bulk)

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but the most common areas affected are the knees, hips and small joints in the hands. Often, you’ll only experience symptoms in 1 joint, or a few joints at any 1 time.

Osteoarthritis of the knee :

If you have osteoarthritis in your knees, both your knees will usually be affected over time, unless it occurred as the result of an injury or another condition affecting only 1 knee.

Your knees may be most painful when you walk, particularly when walking up or down hills or stairs.

Sometimes, your knees may “give way” beneath you or make it difficult to straighten your legs. You may also hear a soft, grating sound when you move the affected joint. Doing daily activities becomes difficult.

Osteoarthritis of the hip:

Osteoarthritis in your hips often causes difficulty moving your hip joints. For example, you may find it difficult to put your shoes and socks on or to get in and out of a car.

You’ll also usually have pain in the groin or outside the hip. This is often worse when you move the hip joints, although it can also affect you when you’re resting or sleeping.

Osteoarthritis of the hand:

Osteoarthritis often affects three main areas of your hand:

• The base of your thumb
• The joints closest to your fingertips
• The middle joints of your fingers

Your fingers may become stiff, painful and swollen and you may develop bumps on your finger joints. Over time, the pain may decrease and eventually disappear altogether, although the bumps and swelling can remain.

Your fingers may bend sideways slightly at your affected joints, or you may develop painful cysts (fluid-filled lumps) on the backs of your fingers.

In some cases, you may also develop a bump at the base of your thumb where it joins your wrist. This can be painful, and you may find it difficult to perform some manual tasks, such as writing, opening jars or turning keys.

Treatment and Support:

There’s no cure for osteoarthritis, but the condition does not necessarily get any worse over time. There are several treatments to help relieve the symptoms.

The main treatments for the symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

Lifestyle measures – such as maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly.

Medication – to relieve your pain.

Supportive therapies – to help make everyday activities easier.

Surgery- Surgery to repair, strengthen or replace damaged joints (Joint Replacement) is helpful.