Osteoarthritis is not a single illness but rather the end result of a variety of disorders leading to the structural or functional failure of 1 or more of your joints.

Osteoarthritis involve the entire joint including the nearby muscles, underlying bone, ligaments, joint lining (synovium), and the joint cover (capsule).

Osteoarthritis is the most frequent form of arthritis. It causes pain, swelling and summary motion in your joints. It can occur in any joint, but frequently it affects your hands, knees, hips or spine.

Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage in your joints. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage absorbs the shock of movement.

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease and osteoarthrosis, is the most common form of arthritis. It is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in joints (i. e., intersections of two bones) and is often cause by “wear and tear. ”

Cartilage cushions the ends of the bones and allows for easier movement within the joints. As osteoarthritis progress, bone spurs (osteophytes) develop within the pretentious joint and the joint space narrows, increasing pain and decreasing mobility.

Low impact exercise, such as walking, swimming or yoga, are also good low stress ways to strengthen bones, joints and muscles, get better flexibility and reduce depression, fatigue and stress.

You’ll also need to cut back or get rid of red meat, since those who eat more red meat have twice the risk of arthritic pain compared to those who eat red meat no more than once a week.

non-nutritious foods in your diet with more whole grains, colorful fruits and vegetables and cold water omega 3 fish, such as salmon.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Symptoms range from stiffness and mild pain that comes and goes to severe joint pain. Common signs include joint pain, swelling, and tenderness; stiffness after getting out of bed; and a crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone. Not everyone with osteoarthritis feels pain.

Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the hands, lower back, neck, and weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips, and feet. Osteoarthritis affects just joints, not internal organs.

Hands

Osteoarthritis of the hands seems to run in families. If your mother or grandmother has or had osteoarthritis in their hands, you’re at greater-than-average risk of having it, too. Women are more likely than men to have osteoarthritis in the hands. For most women, it develops after menopause.

When osteoarthritis involves the hands, small, bony knobs may appear on the end joints (those closest to the nails) of the fingers. They are called Heberden’s (HEBerr-denz) nodes. Similar knobs, called Bouchard’s (boo-SHARDZ) nodes, can appear on the middle joints of the fingers. Fingers can become enlarged and gnarled, and they may ache or be stiff and numb. The base of the thumb joint also is commonly affected by osteoarthritis.

Knees

The knees are among the joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis. Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis include stiffness, swelling, and pain, which make it hard to walk, climb, and get in and out of chairs and bathtubs. Osteoarthritis in the knees can lead to disability.

Hips

The hips are also common sites of osteoarthritis. As with knee osteoarthritis, symptoms of hip osteoarthritis include pain and stiffness of the joint itself. But sometimes pain is felt in the groin, inner thigh, buttocks, or even the knees. Osteoarthritis of the hip may limit moving and bending, making daily activities such as dressing and putting on shoes a challenge.

Spine

Osteoarthritis of the spine may show up as stiffness and pain in the neck or lower back. In some cases, arthritis-related changes in the spine can cause pressure on the nerves where they exit the spinal column, resulting in weakness, tingling, or numbness of the arms and legs. In severe cases, this can even affect bladder and bowel function.

Osteoarthritis Treatment

Treatment Goals: Manage Pain and Improve Function

Osteoarthritis treatment plans often include exercise, rest and joint care, pain relief, weight control, medicines, surgery, and complementary treatment approaches. Current treatments for osteoarthritis can relieve symptoms such as pain and disability, but there are no treatments that can cure the condition.

Although health care professionals can prescribe or recommend treatments to help you manage your arthritis, the real key to living well with the disease is you. Research shows that people with osteoarthritis who take part in their own care report less pain and make fewer doctor visits. They also enjoy a better quality of life.

Osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but it can be treated. Beginning treatment as early as possible can help reduce long-term damage to your joints and bones.

The goal of every treatment for arthritis is to diminish pain and stiffness, allow for greater movement, and slow the string of the disease.  Newer and more effective treatments for osteoarthritis prolong to be developed.

But beware of extravagant claims for any arthritis treatment because many have not been proven scientifically to be effective. Avoid any action that claims to cure arthritis.

There are several general types of treatment for osteoarthritis. Weight loss and exercise are usually the first treatments optional. Because of the potential side effects of many drugs that are used for treating osteoarthritis, medication is usually optional only after weight loss and exercise have not been effective in relieving symptoms.

Home Remedies for Osteoarthritis

1 . Rest: – Rest is advised when there is acute inflammation

2 . Dietary considerations: – Patients should avoid foods which are acidic. Fruits & vegetables are recommended.

3. Heat and Cold therapy: – Applying hot packs for 15-20 min. can reduce pain, and stiffness.

4. Putting cold packs is also helpful in reducing pain and swelling.

5. Sea bathing or salt baths: – The iodine present in the salt helps to regain and regenerate worn out tissues.

6. Exercise: – A little and proper exercise benefits the treatment of osteoarthritis. For this always consult a physical therapist. Exercises can be chosen to increase flexibility, giving strength to muscles as well as bones. Yoga and aerobics have also proved to be helpful in reducing inflammation.

7. Omega 3 fat: – Intake of nuts such as walnuts provides omega 3 fats to the body which helpful in correcting the wear & tear.

8. Oil massage: – Warm oil should be used to massage the stiff and painful joints. It improves the blood circulation and reduces inflammation and stiffness.