Know More about Osteoarthritis
18 July, 2022
Adults frequently
complain of joint pain, which is typically brought on by regular wear and tear
from daily activities including walking, bending, standing, and lifting.
Running and sports involving jumping or fast pivots increase the risk of knee
pain and other related issues in athletes. But whether joint pain is brought on
by ageing or an injury, it can be bothersome and even crippling in some cases.
Common
joint pain typically manifests in the hands, foot, hips, knees, or spine. Pain
may be ongoing or intermittent. Joint pain can sometimes be described as
discomfort, inflammation, soreness, stiffness, or pain. Joint discomfort can be
acute (lasting only a few days) or chronic (lasting more than three months).
The joint may occasionally feel stiff, achy, or sore. A searing, throbbing, or
"grating" feeling is reported by some patients and furthermore the
joint could be stiff in the morning but get looser and feel better with
activity.
What
are the causes of orthopedic joint pain? –
- Sprained or strained knee ligaments or
muscles- Those who have had any joint injuries or repeated overuse of the
muscles.
- Another cause of stiffness and painful
joints is age. This results in the strain and wear and tear of the joints.
- Osteoarthritis-
a prevalent type of arthritis which develops over time when the cartilage (the
protective cushion in between the bones) wears away and the joints start to
hurt and stiffen. It is a degenerative disease that progressively worsens with
age and is irreversible.
- Torn cartilage which occur with sprains.
- Joint dislocation due to injury or
accident.
- Rheumatoid arthritis- A persistent
condition that injures the joints and causes swelling. This results in the deformation
of joints (usually occurring in the fingers and wrists).
- Gout- Crystals from the body build up in
the joint which results in excruciating pain and swelling. Usually, the big toe
experiences this.
- Due to physical and mental stress
What are the common symptoms observed?-
- Intense pain
- Swelling of joint, redness and fever
- Difficulty in walking
- Joint inflammation and cartilage decay due
to arthritis
- Reduced mobility and joint stiffness
- Numbness
- Noisy joints like clicking, grinding or
crackling sound during movement.
- Visible deformity of the affected joint
What
are the Diagnostic tests and Treatments available?-
- Pathological
examinations such as Blood tests, hormone tests, tests to detect the function
of adrenal glands and Urine culture.
- X-rays,
CT scan or MRI scan.
- Arthroscopy-
A minimally-invasive diagnostic and treatment procedure used for joint
conditions. An arthroscopeâ€â€Âa tiny, illuminated optic tube introduced through a
tiny incision in the joint. Images of the inside of the joint are projected
onto a screen in order to analyze any arthritic or degenerative changes in the
joint, to find tumors, to identify the source of bone pain and inflammation.
This procedure is also used for ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery.
- Replacement
surgeries like Total Knee Replacement, Total Hip Replacement, Spinal surgeries
to relieve the unbearable pain and also adds new shelf life to the joints. This
is usually suggested for severe osteoarthritic patients.
- Physiotherapy
as suggested by the physician for post-operative patients and also suggested
exercises for restoring movement to the numb joint.
- Medications
as prescribed by the medical practitioner.
What is Total Knee/ Hip Replacement surgery?-
It could be challenging to walk or climb stairs if the
knee or hip joint has been seriously affected by arthritis or another accident.
So, even while sitting or lying down, one could start to experience pain.
Replacement surgery is recommended for the patients with bowed knee deformity. The
average surgical procedure lasts between 1-2 hours and requires very less
hospital stay for about three days. After three to six weeks of rest, the
patient can resume back to his daily routine. To correct the alignment and
function of knee/hip joint, the orthopedic surgeon will remove the damaged bone
and cartilage and then places the new metal implants which are made up of
titanium dioxide highly polished with cobalt chromium. These implants mimic the
exact the knee/ hip joint and offers the same movement as that of a natural
joint. These replacement surgeries do not have any age or weight restrictions
and can be performed at any stage of the life. Having a knee/hip replacement surgery
improves mobility, reduces pain, and improves the quality of life. Additionally,
the majority of these replacements provide a shelf life longer than 15 years.
Prevention
and Control-
- Activity modification such as weight loss.
- Walking aids such as walking sticks,
safety bars, or handrails across the staircases for those with disrupted
movement.
- Viscosupplementation injections and nerve
ablation for immediate pain relief. Viscosupplementation involves injecting a gel-like
fluid called hyaluronic acid which provides lubrication and may provide
immediate pain relief. But this procedure has not been found to be effective
and often causes side effects like redness, and swelling in the injected part
and may develop a local allergy-type reaction.
- Avoid using low-floor toilets and the use
of western commodes is recommended.
- Physiotherapy exercises for restoring the
movements and strengthening the joint post-operation.
- Management of stress.