Joint disease is one condition that affects millions of people worldwide which causes disability and so much pain to individuals thus creating great impact in the life of an individual and in the society as a whole. One of the most common joint diseases today is Osteoarthritis. It is projected to be the second most common condition in women and fourth for men in the near future in almost all developed countries base on the years lived with disability.
It is the elderly patients that are mostly affected and since the number of individuals ages fifty and above is estimated to double between 1990 and 2020, it therefore follows that the burden of osteoarthritis will significantly increase. In Europe alone, there are more people age sixty years and above than those twenty years and it is projected by the year 2020 the elderly will represent about twenty-five percent of the population. That is why it is important that investment should be focus on more education and research to lessen the burden of joint disease or else this will bring a global problem in the health cost and disability (Acta Orthop Scand 1998).
Indeed, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that is quite painful and disabling which mostly affects the weight bearing joints which are the knees and hips. It can also affect the spine, feet and hands. Symptoms of osteoarthritis are the following;
Pain
Pain is one of the main symptoms of osteoarthritis. It manifests as a deep ache within the joint that is affected. This joint pain often aggravates during the day although others report pain is at worst during early in the morning.
This pain is primarily cause by a joint damage and others are cause by the grating of the joint when you perform specific activities like stair climbing, kneeling and bending. This is because the cartilage has deteriorated and joint has become unstable.
Osteoarthritis can also cause referred pain like an arthritic hip may cause pain in the knee, thigh, groin or buttocks. Another example is arthritis in the spine which can result to pain that spreads in the legs, arms or neck.
Stiffness
When you are not active or after a time of inactivity, one will experience stiffness in the osteoarthritic joint. The stiffness usually last for thirty minutes or less and this is improved with light activity that can warm up the joint.
Swelling and Bony Enlargement
Continuous breakdown of the cartilage can lead to the formation of bone growths. This growths increase the swelling. The cycle continues with the irritation and swelling.
Treatment of osteoarthritis comprise of the non-invasive form of treatment although surgery is also an option if the symptoms are severe.