Osteoarthritis

What is osteoarthritis ?

As we get older the cartilage in our joints becomes more brittle and is likely to wear out or degenerate. This can lead to osteoarthritis which is wearing out of the lining (articular) cartilage. In the early stages of arthritis pain is normally mild and only felt after exercise. It is usually a dull ache and may be associated with some swelling. As arthritis progresses the pain will become constant and more severe. It may be painful at rest and wake you up at night. The joint will often become stiff and may become deformed or angulated.

What conditions predispose to osteoarthritis?

Many people develop arthritis with no known factors that have predisposed them. If you have had a significant injury to a joint it is more likely to develop arthritis. If you are severely overweight this puts stress on your joints and may lead to early arthritis. Other medical conditions can also lead to early arthritis. People who have childhood problems with their hips such as Congenital hip dysplasia, perthes disease and slipped Upper femoral Epiphyses are predisposed to developing hip osteo arthritis

How do you treat arthritis?

In the early stages the pain can be treated with simple painkillers. It is important to keep the muscles in good shape and keep the joints moving. For this reason physiotherapy is often helpful. As the pain gets worse stronger and more frequent pain killers may be needed. Sometimes an injection of cortisone into the joint may be helpful. When the pain is severe and interfering with you life it may be appropriate to consider having a partial or full joint replacement.