Osteoarthritis Symptoms
Osteoarthritis is the gradual wear of the smooth layer of cartilage that covers the surfaces of the ends of bones in joints. Spurs grow out from the edge of the bone, and synovial fluid increases. The inflammation of the joint causes the main symptoms of osteoarthritis, joint pain and stiffness. Some people also experience swelling, tenderness and a grating or crackling sound when moving the affected joints. The amount of pain and stiffness can be very different from person to person, and between different affected joints. For some people, the symptoms can be mild and may come and go. Other people can have severe symptoms that seem to last all day. This can make doing everyday activities difficult.
Causes of Osteoarthritis
While the main cause is not known, genetic or family related is a common cause. There are several factors that contribute to early wear of the joints and these are :
Obesity – excess body weight puts excess strain into your joints
Age – as you get older, the risk of wear and tear in your joints becomes higher
Previous damage/joint injury – any form of injury in the joints can cause malfunction and even damage surfaces in the joints or surrounding supportive structures such as ligaments and muscles
Rheumatoid arthritis – is a another type of arthritis that causes an inflammatory response in the joints which leads to early wear .
Structural problems of the joint such as hip dysplasia or impingement
Avascular Necrosis – a condition where the bones in the joins (mainly the femoral head) loses blood supply
Symptoms of Arthritis
Stiffness in the hip joint or limited range of motion
Difficulty walking
Pain in the joint, groin, outer thigh, buttock or knee
Pain which usually gets worse in the morning and lessens with activity
Fatigue and weakness especially in people with Rheumatoid arthritis
Treatment for Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and can’t be cured, but it doesn’t necessarily get any worse over time and the inflammation can sometimes gradually improve. A number of treatments are also available to reduce the symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment can help preserve the joint and main function as well as mobility
There are some ways you can manage mild symptoms, such as:
Regular exercise – an exercise programme will help improve flexibility and maintain muscle tone and build up strength
Losing weight if you’re overweight.
Wearing suitable footwear.
Using special devices to reduce the strain on your joints during your everyday activities such as walking sticks
Modifying activities to minimise stress on the hip
If your symptoms are more severe, you may need additional treatments such as anti inflammatory pain medication and/or steroid injections into the joints. In a small number of cases, where the above treatments haven’t helped or the damage to the joints is particularly severe, surgery may be carried out to repair, strengthen or replace a damaged joint.
References
Versus Arthritis, 2018, Osteoarthritis (OA ) of the Hip, viewed 28 December 2020 https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-oa-of-the-hip/Versus Arthritis
NHS, 2018, Symptoms: Osteoarthritis, viewed 28 December 2020
OrthoInfo, 2020, Osteoarthritis of the Hip, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, viewed 28 December 2020
NHS, 2018, Arthritis – Living with Arthritis, viewed 22 December 2020