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Arthritis Osteoarthritis, knee pain, hip pain, hip injuries, knee injuries, osteoarthritis, arthritic pain, pain during bad weather, aches and pains, aging joints, degenerative joint diseases. Knee surgery, hip surgery, pain in the knees when climbing stairs. Preventing knee deterioration, prevent arthritis, ease pain from arthritis. Arthritis Osteoarthritis, knee pain, hip pain, hip injuries, knee injuries, osteoarthritis, arthritic pain, pain during bad weather, aches and pains, aging joints, degenerative joint diseases. Knee surgery, hip surgery, pain in the knees when climbing stairs. Preventing knee deterioration, prevent arthritis, ease pain from arthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Osteoarthritis is one of the oldest and most common forms of arthritis.
Ice-aged skeletons show signs of arthritis. Known as the “wear-and-tear” kind of
arthritis, OA is a chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s
cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of the bones and
allows joints to move easily.
The joint relies on fluid containing hyaluronan, a
lubricant that allows for smooth operation of the joint. In Osteoarthritis the joint
fluid may not contain enough hydaluronan to be effective. The breakdown of cartilage
causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of
movement in the joint.
Osteoarthritis is known by many different names, including degenerative joint disease, ostoarthrosis, hypertrophic arthritis and degenerative arthritis.
Today, an estimated 21 million Americans live with OA. Despite the longevity and frequency of the disease, the cause is still not completely known and there is no cure. Age, obesity, injury or overuse and genetics play a role in whether or not you are likely to develop Osteoarthritis.
There are several stages of osteoarthritis:
2) Wear of cartilage causes changes to underlying bone. The bone thickens and cysts may occur under the cartilage. Bony growths, called spurs or osteophytes, develop near the end of the bone at the affected joint.
3)As bone and cartilage deteriorate, bits of bone or cartilage float loosely in the joint space.
4)The joint lining, or the synovium, becomes inflamed due to cartilage breakdown causing cytokines (inflammation proteins) and enzymes that damage cartilage further.
5)Deterioration of cartilage can:
Affect the shape and makeup of the joint so it doesn’t function smoothly. This can result in limping when you walk or have trouble going up and down stairs. This causes fragments of bone and cartilage to float in joint fluid causing irritation and pain.
Which may cause bony spurs, called osteophytes, to develop near the ends of bones
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Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining, or synovium, of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progresses in three stages.
1) The synovial lining in the joint swells, causing pain, warmth, stiffness, redness and swelling around the joint.
2) Rapid division and growth of cells, or pannus, which causes the synovium to thicken.
3) Inflamed cells release enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage, often causing the involved joint to lose its shape and alignment, more pain, and loss of movement.
RA may flare up, or decrease in intensity. It is a systemic disease, and can cause damage to other organs. It can be very crippling, decreasing ability to work. It can be expensive to treat and in some cases may require surgery.
Rheumatoid Arthritis may occur in children and is called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. It causes similar symptoms to adult rheumatoid arthritis and may affect growth.
