Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative arthritis, is a gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Cartilage is a tough, flexible connective tissue that protects the ends of bones in the joints.

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Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis is common in the knees because the knees bear the weight of the body. Osteoarthritis of the knee can severely impact a person's lifestyle.

 

Causes and Risk Factors

Osteoarthritis commonly develops as a result of the wear and tear of aging. It also frequently results from traumatic injury to the joint. Osteoarthritis of the knee is more common in older people, in women, and in people who have occupations that place increased stress on the knees. People who have certain diseases, bone deformities or a genetic predisposition are also at a higher risk. Obesity can also raise a person's risk for osteoarthritis of the knee, because extra body weight increases stress on the knee joints.

Progression

In a healthy knee, the ends of the bones are covered by a layer of cartilage. Healthy cartilage allows the bones to glide smoothly against each other. But in a knee with osteoarthritis, this cartilage begins to deteriorate and wear away. Repetitive motion or injury may speed this deterioration. Eventually, the bones may rub directly against each other.

Bone Spur Formation

This rubbing can cause the gradual growth of bony bumps along the edge of the joint. These lumps, called bone spurs (or osteophytes), can cause joint pain.

Symptoms

Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee may include pain, swelling and stiffness of the joint. The knee may become weak, and it may lock or buckle when walking. A person with osteoarthritis may have trouble bending or straightening the knee. Standing or walking for long periods may worsen this pain.

Treatment

Treatment options depend on the severity of the arthritis. In the early stages, the knee may be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, and injections of medications that lubricate the joint. The physician may recommend physical therapy, a knee brace and weight loss to relieve stress on the joint. If these methods are not helpful and if the knee continues to deteriorate, surgery may be needed to repair the joint.

© 2007 Swarm Interactive

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS? 

Piedmont offers a variety of treatment options for pain related to osteoarthritis in the knees. Schedule a consultation with a physician here or by calling 478.474.2114. 

It’s time to get back to your life. Piedmont Orthopaedic Complex can help you do it faster.

 

Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Osteoarthritis is common in the hip because the hip bears the weight of the body. Osteoarthritis of the hip can severely impact a person's lifestyle.

 

Causes and Risk Factors

Osteoarthritis commonly develops as a result of the wear and tear of aging. It also frequently results from traumatic injury to the joint. Osteoarthritis of the hip is more common in older people, in women, and in people who have occupations that place increased stress on the hip. People who have certain diseases, bone deformities or a genetic predisposition are also at a higher risk. Obesity can also raise a person's risk for osteoarthritis of the hip, because extra body weight increases stress on the hip joint.

Progression

In a healthy hip, the head of the femur is covered by a layer of cartilage. Healthy cartilage allows the bone to glide smoothly within the joint. But in a hip with osteoarthritis, this cartilage begins to deteriorate and wear away. Repetitive motion or injury may speed this deterioration. Eventually, the bone of the femur may rub directly against the bone of the hip socket.

Bone Spur Formation

This rubbing can cause the gradual growth of bony bumps along the edge of the joint. These lumps, called bone spurs (or osteophytes), can cause joint pain.

Symptoms

Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip may include pain in the hip, inner thigh, buttocks and knees. Movement may increase this pain. The hip may feel tender when pressure is applied. The person may experience a grating sensation when walking. The hip may feel stiff, and this stiffness may interfere with the leg's range of motion.

Treatment

Treatment options depend on the severity of the arthritis. In the early stages, the hip may be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, and physical therapy. The physician may recommend shoe orthotics and weight loss to relieve stress on the joint. If these methods are not helpful and if the hip continues to deteriorate, surgery may be needed to repair the joint.

© 2007 Swarm Interactive

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS? 

Piedmont offers a variety of treatment options for pain related to osteoarthritis in the hips. Schedule a consultation with a physician here or by calling 478.474.2114. 

It’s time to get back to your life. Piedmont Orthopaedic Complex can help you do it faster.

 

Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder can severely impact a person's lifestyle. 

 

Causes and Risk Factors

Osteoarthritis commonly develops as a result of the wear and tear of aging. It also frequently results from traumatic injury to the joint. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is more common in older people, in women, and in people who have occupations that place increased stress on the shoulder. People who have certain diseases, bone deformities or a genetic predisposition are also at a higher risk.

Progression

In a healthy shoulder, the head of the humerus is covered by a layer of cartilage. Healthy cartilage allows the bone to glide smoothly within the joint. But in a shoulder with osteoarthritis, this cartilage begins to deteriorate and wear away. Repetitive motion or injury may speed this deterioration. Eventually, the bone of the humerus may rub directly against the bone of the shoulder socket.

Bone Spur Formation

This rubbing can cause the gradual growth of bony bumps along the edge of the joint. These bumps, called bone spurs (or osteophytes), can cause joint pain.

Symptoms

Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the shoulder may include pain in the shoulder and arm. Movement may increase this pain. The shoulder may feel tender when pressure is applied. The person may experience a grating sensation when moving the arm. The shoulder may feel stiff, and this stiffness may interfere with the arm's range of motion.

Treatment

Treatment options depend on the severity of the arthritis. In the early stages, the shoulder may be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, and physical therapy. If these methods are not helpful and if the shoulder continues to deteriorate, surgery may be needed to repair or replace the joint.

© 2007 Swarm Interactive

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS? 

Piedmont offers a variety of treatment options for pain related to osteoarthritis in the shoulder. Schedule a consultation with a physician here or by calling 478.474.2114. 

It’s time to get back to your life. Piedmont Orthopaedic Complex can help you do it faster.

 

Osteoarthritis of the Hand

Just as osteoarthritis can develop in the knees, shoulders and hips, your fingers and hands are also susceptible. Hand arthritis is most common in the wrist, the joint that joins your thumb and your wrist (the basilar joint), your finger tips (DIP joint), and the middle knuckles of your fingers (PIP joint). Osteoarthritis can be seen on x-rays, but it can sometimes be seen just on physical examination as the joints tend to swell and grow in size. 

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS

Osteoarthritis commonly develops as a result of the wear and tear of aging. It also frequently results from traumatic injury to the joint. Osteoarthritis of the hands is more common in older people, in women, and in people who have occupations that place increased stress on the hands such as sewing or typing. People who have certain diseases, bone deformities or a genetic predisposition are also at a higher risk.

PROGRESSION

In a healthy hand, the joints in the fingers and wrist are cushioned by a layer of cartilage. Health cartilage allows the bones to glide smoothly within the joint as you move your fingers. In a hand affected by osteoarthritis, the cartilage begins to deteriorate and wear away. Repetitive motion or a previous injury may speed this deterioration. Eventually, the bones in the fingers or wrist may rub directly against each other, which can cause swelling, bone spurs and pain.

BONE SPUR FORMATION

This rubbing can cause the gradual growth of bony bumps along the edge of the joint. These bumps, called bone spurs (or osteophytes), can cause joint pain.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hand may include pain in the hands and wrist. Movement may increase this pain. The wrist or fingers may feel tender when pressure is applied. The person may experience a grating sensation when moving the affected joint. The joint may feel stiff, and this stiffness may interfere with your range of motion.

TREATMENT

Treatment options depend on the severity of the arthritis. In the early stages, the affected joint may be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, and physical therapy. If these methods are not helpful and if the joint continues to deteriorate, surgery may be needed to repair or replace the joint.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS? 

Piedmont offers a variety of treatment options for pain related to osteoarthritis in the hands. Schedule a consultation with a physician here or by calling 478.474.2114. 

It's time to get back to your life. Piedmont Orthopaedic Complex can help you get back to it faster.

 

Osteoarthritis of the Back or Neck

Just as osteoarthritis can develop in the knees, shoulders and hips, your neck and back are also susceptible. Most people experience back pain and stiffness particularly after a long day of work, but osteoarthritis is a condition that becomes much more painful and worsens over time. With osteoarthritis of the spine, the cartilage of the joints and discs in the neck and lower back breaks down and wears away, leaving no cushion between the bone. These conditions can produce bone spurs, which put pressure on the nerves leaving the spinal column. This causes weakness not only in the back but in the arms or legs. 

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS

Osteoarthritis commonly develops as a result of the wear and tear of aging. It also frequently results from traumatic injury to the joint. Osteoarthritis of the spine is more common in older people, in women, and in people who have occupations that place increased stress on the back. People who have certain diseases, bone deformities or a genetic predisposition are also at a higher risk.

progression 

In a healthy spine, the joints are cushioned by a layer of cartilage. Health cartilage allows the bones to glide smoothly within the joint as you move around. In a spine affected by osteoarthritis, the cartilage begins to deteriorate and wear away. Repetitive motion or a previous injury may speed this deterioration. Eventually, the discs in the back may rub directly against each other, which can cause swelling, bone spurs and pain.

BONE SPUR FORMATION

This rubbing can cause the gradual growth of bony bumps along the edge of the joint. These bumps, called bone spurs (or osteophytes), can cause joint pain.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the neck or back hand may include chronic pain in a joint in the back (often described as an aching pain), and this pain may be aggravated by motion. Other symptoms include swelling and warmth in the joint, tenderness of the joint when pressure is applied, loss of mobility in the joint due to stiffness, a cracking or crunching sensation as if the bone is moving against bone, a pinching or tingling of a nerve, a numbness of a nerve. The area around joint may feel stiff, and this stiffness may interfere with your range of motion.

TREATMENT

Treatment options depend on the severity of the arthritis. In the early stages, the affected joint may be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, and physical therapy. If these methods are not helpful and if the joint continues to deteriorate, surgery may be needed to repair the joint.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS? 

Piedmont offers a variety of treatment options for pain related to osteoarthritis in the spine. Schedule a consultation with a physician here or by calling 478.474.2114. 

It's time to get back to your life and doing the things you enjoy. Piedmont Orthopaedic Complex can help you get back faster.