Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis Disease

Osteoarthritis, also referred to as a degenerative joint disease, is the most widespread form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis develops gradually over time as cartilage in your joints wears down. Osteoarthritis can cause joints to become painful, stiff and appear larger. It most frequently strikes joints in the spine, hips, knees and hands. Treatments are available to help alleviate the pain of osteoarthritis.

Effects

• The UMMC says in the early stages of osteoarthritis the exterior of the cartilage becomes inflamed and swollen. Eventually fissures (splitting) and pits (small holes) develop in the cartilage.

  As osteoarthritis worsens additional tissue is lost and the cartilage hardens. This dysfunctional combination makes the area more vulnerable to injury. Over time, considerable amounts of cartilage are destroyed, leaving the tips of the bone within the joint defenseless.

Complications

• Further problems can develop as the body tries to mend the damaged cartilage. For example, groups of injured cells or fluid-filled cysts may gather around the bony areas near fissures in the cartilage. Small sacks of fluid may also grow within the bone marrow itself and lead to swelling.

  Bone cells may react to the ravages of osteoarthritis by multiplying and creating thick, malformed plates around exposed areas.

Risk Factors

• The majority of people who develop osteoarthritis are over age 40. According to the Mayo Clinic women are more apt to develop the disease but the reason for this is not known.

  Injuries that result from an accident or when playing sport may increase the likelihood of getting osteoarthritis. Sometimes people are born with abnormal joints or flawed cartilage, which can increase the risk of osteoarthritis.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of osteoarthritis frequently develop gradually and intensify over time. They commonly include pain, tenderness and/or stiffness in the affected joint. A grating sensation may occur when using the joint. There may be less flexibility in the joint and in some cases bone spurs (hard lumps) and swelling may appear.

Diagnosis

• Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and will likely take x-rays and blood tests to help diagnosis osteoarthritis.

  In some cases your doctor may use arthroscopy (a tiny camera that can see inside the joint) to diagnose the source of your pain.

Treatment

• While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, treatments can lessen pain and preserve joint movement so that you can go about your daily routine. When pain is moderate, over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) may help.

  If osteoarthritis pain becomes severe, prescription pain pills, including codeine and propoxyphene (Darvon), may be needed to get relief. When pain medications fail to offer adequate relief, surgery such as arthroplasty (joint replacement) may be an option.