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Ostheoarthritis Treatment

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What is Osteoarthritis (OA)?

A common cause of joint pain, such as knee pain or hip pain, is osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a degenerative disease, also described as “wear and tear,” which leads to loss of cartilage.

 

OA is a chronic joint condition, and as it progresses, cartilage protecting the ends of the bones gradually breaks down, joint fluid loses its shock-absorbing qualities and bones may begin to rub against each other. This can cause pain, swelling and problems moving the joint.

 

Sometimes knee or hip pain caused by bursitis is confused with OA. There are some differentiators to be on the lookout for. Bursitis pain increases when pressure is put on the joint and can start sharply to gradually change to a dull ache. Osteoarthritis pain comes on gradually and gets worse over time. However, people with OA may also get a bursitis.

Joint Pain & Osteoarthritis

Most people are likely to experience joint pain at some point in their lives. Playing sports or engaging in other strenuous activities can contribute to acute pain and inflammation from overuse of the joint.

 

While serious injuries are relatively uncommon, chronic joint pain may progress into a more severe hindrance over time.

Relieve your symptoms! Improve your quality of life!

What symptoms are associated with Osteoarthritis?

Listed below are the symptoms commonly reported by people who have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA). If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially if you have previously injured your knee or hip, it is important that you talk to your doctor about OA.

Pain or discomfort in your joints that may reduce mobility, making it difficult to get up and out of chairs, use the stairs, or walk long distances. The pain may be deferred, or even appear in other areas of your body, such as back pain, which could be caused by osteoarthritis.

Joint swelling may also be an indicator of OA, as the inflammation could lead to effusions (excess fluid) in the joint. These are often related to acute worsening of the overall osteoarthritic condition.

Stiffness, usually due to inflammation, may be common, especially in the morning or after sitting for a long period of time.

Creaking, crackly and popping sounds when the joints move has also been reported by people suffering from OA.

How are stages of OA classified?

OA stages can be classified from x-ray evaluation in the Kellgren Lawrence grades KL 0 – KL 4:

KL 0: No radiographic features of osteoarthritis

KL 1: Possible joint space narrowing and osteophyte formation

KL 2: Definite osteophyte formation with possible joint space narrowing

KL 3: Multiple osteophytes, definite joint space narrowing, sclerosis and possible bony deformity

KL 4: Large osteophytes, marked joint space narrowing, severe sclerosis and definite bony deformity

A more common description of the stages of osteoarthritis are mild, moderate and severe OA (stages 2 – 4)

1. Mild Osteoarthritis

At this stage, the surface of the joint cartilage is beginning to breakdown and x-rays or MRIs of joints may show small bone spurs, cracks or indentations forming. Patients with mild OA may experience pain or discomfort after a long day of walking. Wearing an ultra-lightweight brace like Unloader One Lite or Unloader Hip could help prevent further breakdown while easing mild joint pain.

2. Moderate Osteoarthritis
At this stage, the joint cartilage has broken down to the point that the bones are more frequently rubbing together. People with moderate OA may experience pain while walking, running, bending or using the stairs. Joint stiffness is commonly experienced after long periods of sitting or lying down. Inflammation of the joints is also reported following more strenuous activities.

 

Wearing a brace, such as Unloader One or Unloader Hip, could help delay the need for total joint replacement surgery.

3. Severe Osteoarthritis
Severe OA is characterized by great pain and discomfort during everyday activities. By this stage, the joint space between bones is significantly reduced because the cartilage is nearly gone, causing the bones to rub and grate against each other. The synovial fluid, which provides lubrication for joints, has decreased drastically and no longer reduces friction during movement.

Joint Replacement surgery is often the only viable treatment option for people who are diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis. However, it is important to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle in order to avoid complications during surgery. Wearing an Unloader One knee brace can help you to maintain a healthy lifestyle and manage your weight, making yourself a better surgical candidate.

pain relief, improvement of mobility and preservation of joint function!

How is OA diagnosed?

Only a trained medical professional can accurately and effectively diagnose osteoarthritis. If you are experiencing chronic knee or hip pain and think it may be due to osteoarthritis, it is best to speak with your doctor as soon as possible.

 

Your doctor may ask you questions regarding the symptoms you are experiencing, such as knee or hip pain, and their impact on your daily function. Your doctor may also perform a physical examination of the affected joint(s), or even take X-Rays to help verify the diagnosis. This process may be repeated over time to better monitor the progression of the disease. Additional diagnostics could include further ultrasound, CT and MRI scans.

An ultrasound is helpful to view a joint effusion and injuries to ligaments and muscles, without radiation exposure.

 

Computer tomography (CT) illustrates bony structures very well for your physician, and can be used to show even small fractures. For osteoarthritis, CT scans help evaluate bony alterations that may not show clearly on x-rays.

 

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also works without radiation. MRI’s show detailed sectional images of tissue, which is especially useful for ligament and meniscal injuries or injuries/ changes of the joint cartilage.

 

If you do receive a diagnosis of OA, do not lose hope! There are a number of options available to treat your condition, including our Unloader knee braces, clinically proven to relieve OA pain, and the Unloader Hip brace, proven to improve activities of daily living.

How is OA treated?

With the right treatment, you can relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life, despite osteoarthritis being a chronic (non-curable) condition. Managing OA symptoms is vital as it can slow the progression of the disease down considerably.

 

The main goals of OA therapy are pain relief, improvement of mobility and preservation of joint function. As osteoarthritis may present different symptoms in each individual, it is necessary to work with your doctor to develop tailored osteoarthritis management plans.

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