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Your Foot Book Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a chronic disorder involving the joints. It is degenerative resulting in a change in the joints and should properly be called osteoarthrosis as it is mechanical and not caused by inflammation. The degenerative changes take place because the rubbing of the joint surfaces causes a wearing away and disintegration of the tissues. Osteoarthrosis is essentially a mechanical failure or breakdown. There may be additional factors that accelerate this natural process. Such factors may include unusual stresses on the joint, such as those resulting from obesity or bowleg or certain type of rough repetitive physical activity. Other possibilities include disorders that damage the joint cartilage, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteochondritis (bone and cartilage inflammation); or damage to the joint surfaces from a fracture or torn cartilage as may occur in an fall or accident or high impact sports. Additional factors are disorders of the joint such as congenital dislocation of the hip. Osteoarthrosis can also occur naturally from the slowing down in old age of the normal repair processes. The joints that are stressed from carrying the body's weight are have a higher probability of developing osteoarthritis along with the small joints of the hand and foot. For example, repeated injuries to an athlete's hips, knees, or ankles in high impact sports activity are likely to result in osteoarthritis in those joints in later life. Gout or septic arthritis when left untreated can also cause osteoarthritis. The joint surfaces are gradually worn away exposing the underlying bone when the synovial membrane and cartilage that line joint are worn out or damaged. The bone becomes smooth and its edges rough with osteophytes or mall areas of bony formation. Ligaments and membranes surrounding the joint may also become thickened because the slight strains that occur in an osteoarthritic joint. Typically, the pain increases gradually with increasing restriction of movement due to the pain. The amount of pain varies from time to time. Heavy loads, stresses or sudden movements may make the condition worse. Often grating sounds can frequently be heard and usually felt from the effected joint when moving it. Morning stiffness is typical in effected joints when getting up in the morning or even after sitting for any length of time. Your physician can makes a diagnosis after examination of the joint, usually with X rays to support the diagnosis. Osteoarthritis is increasingly common with age as it is the result on natural mechanical wear and tear on the joint accelerated by the factors mentioned above. Your physician will usually direct treatment toward improving general health and maintaining as normal a lifestyle as possible. Weight loss may be recommended for overweight patients and usually exercises or physical therapy designed to strengthen surrounding muscles and maintain movement of the joint when it is not bearing weight are recommended. Complete relief of pain from osteoarthritis is not often achieved. Painkillers such as aspirin may be prescribed or various anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Motrin®, Naprosyn®, Feldene®, and Clinoril®, may also be used in moderation. Heat from heating pads or whirlpools may provide relief for acute pain in a joint. Often rest is helpful helpful and sometimes when pain is severe almost the only available action. Walking aids such as canes, crutches, or walking frames may also be used. There are several surgical procedures may be helpful for joints that have sustained severe damage. When pain is extreme and mobility already severely limited, arthrodesis, an operation to fuse the joint in one position, may be done to prevent further pain. Other operations include removing some of the membranes around the joint or forming a new joint, as is done in some treatments for Hallux Valgus deformities. Total replacement of a joint is also possible. Typically accomplished by the insertion of a plastic and metal artificial joint; hip replacement surgery is one of the most common examples with good success. Knee joints are also common and technology has improved to allow for small joint surgery in the hand an foot as well. This material does not constitute medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. Foot Menders will not answer medical questions via email. Please consult a physician for specific treatment recommendations. |
