Osteoarthritis Pain Causes

Osteoarthritis Symptoms, Pain Relief And Management

Osteoarthritis pain causes discomfort and even severe pain in millions of individuals around the globe. Osteoarthritis, which is also sometimes called "OA," is a serious form of arthritis that has no cure. Pain caused by osteoarthritis tends to grow more intense with time. It’s called degenerative joint disease because it normally occurs when the cartilage becomes worn down due to aging or damage due to injury or illness.

Cartilage is soft tissue that's designed to cushion the ends of the bones that are located in the joints. This prevents them from rubbing together, which causes pain. When the cartilage is damaged, it can become rough along the surface creating pain when the joint is used. When the cartilage deteriorates, the bones can rub together - which can also be very painful.

People who have osteoarthritis often complain of hip pain and knee pain.

The exact cause of osteoarthritis is not known but studies indicated there are several factors that can contribute to it. These include heredity, injuries, aging, weakness in the muscles and undue stress. The most common areas of the body to be affected are the hands, knees, spine and hips. However, osteoarthritis can cause joint pain in the body.

Normally it only affects one joint at a time, except when it occurs in the fingers.

Osteoarthritis symptoms

Common symptoms of osteoarthritis include painful hands, hips, knees, and feet; sometimes pain is felt in the back along the spine. Pain usually occurs during movement of the joint. Typically, it's worse at the end of the day or after periods of activity. Other symptoms of OA include

• Pain can also present even during rest, depending on the stage of the disease.
• Joint tenderness and occasional swelling.
• Temporary stiffness (usually less than an hour) after periods of inactivity.
• Limited joint motion and crepitation (joint cracking or creaking), accompanied by pain.
• Joint deformity (usually in later stages of osteoarthritis).

Osteoarthritis pain relief and management

Since it’s not known exactly what causes this condition there is not a lot you can do to prevent it. However, there are osteoarthritis pain relief and management options available to help you maintain movement in the affected joint and reduce the amount of pain that you feel. Mild cases of osteoarthritis can be treated by resting the affected area for a day or two. You can use heat or ice packs and over-the-counter creams and pain relievers to help ease the discomfort.

If you’re overweight, start up an exercise regimen and eat a healthy diet to get back in shape. Being overweight can increase the stress on your joints and increase your risk. It’s recommended that you discuss types of exercises with your doctor to ensure the program you begin is suited for your individual needs. Depending on your overall health, you may want to work with a physical therapist.

In the later stages of osteoarthritis the pain may become so severe that these methods may no longer be effective.

Your doctor may recommend stronger medications such as acetaminophen, Tramadol and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

In some cases it may even be necessary to undergo surgery.
 

 

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Sources and Citations:

National Institutes of Health page on osteoarthritis pain causes,

Mayo Clinic.