Osteoarthritis(OA) is the most common form of arthritis affecting millions of people worldwide. In osteoarthritis, the top layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away. This allows bones under the cartilage to rub together. The rubbing causes pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint. Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape. Also, bone spurs may grow on the edges of the joint. Bits of bone or cartilage can break off and float inside the joint space, which causes more pain and damage.
Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint, but usually it affects your hands, knees, hips or spine.
CAUSES
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints gradually deteriorates. Cartilage is a firm, slippery tissue that permits nearly frictionless joint motion.
RISK FACTORS
Factors that may increase your risk of osteoarthritis include:
AGE :
Osteoarthritis usually starts from the late 40s onwards. it’s more common in older people, may be due to your muscles weakening and your body being less able to heal itself, or your joint slowly wearing out over time.
SEX:
Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isn’t clear why.
OBESITY:
Carrying extra body weight contributes to osteoarthritis in several ways, and the more you weigh, the greater your risk. Increased weight puts added stress on weight-bearing joints, such as your hips and knees. In addition, fat tissue produces proteins that may cause harmful inflammation in and around your joints.
JOINT INJURIES :
Injuries, such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident, may increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Even injuries that occurred many years ago and seemingly healed can increase your risk of osteoarthritis.
CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS:
If your job includes tasks that place repetitive stress on a particular joint, that joint may eventually develop OA.
GENETICS:
Some people inherit a tendency to develop osteoarthritis.
BONE DEFORMITIES:
Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage, which can increase the risk of osteoarthritis.
OTHER TYPES OF JOINT DISEASE :
Sometimes osteoarthritis is a result of damage from a different kind of joint disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout .
SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS ARE:
Pain – The pain tends to be worse when you move your joint or at the end of the day. If you have severe osteoarthritis, you may feel pain more often.
Stiffness
Your joints may feel stiff after rest, but this usually wears off as you get moving.
Crepitus
(A grating or grinding sensation) – Your joint may creak or crunch as you move.
Swelling –
The swelling may be hard (caused by osteophytes) or soft (caused by synovial thickening and extra fluid), and the muscles around your joint may look thin or wasted.
Restricted Movement of Joints
Your joint may not move as freely or as far as normal. Sometimes it may give way because your muscles have weakened or your joint has become less stable. Exercises to strengthen your muscles can help to prevent this.
In more severe cases, the pain might not go away. It might stop you sleeping and cause difficulties in your daily activities. For example : osteoarthritis of the knee or hip can make it difficult to climb stairs or get up from a chair.
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT
Homoeopathic medicines that chosen correctly after a detailed study of the patient shows wonderful results in managing osteoarthritis. Homeopathic medicines can reduce pain and improve mobility. Homeopathic medicines are definitely suggested for osteoarthritis, especially for early cases where the medicines can slow down the degenerative process and offer considerable pain relief.