Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects cartilage and joints, mainly affecting the hands, knees, hips and shoulders. Understand.
A Osteoarthritis or as it is also known, osteoarthrosis or osteoarthritis is a disease characterized by the degeneration of cartilage and changes in bone structures. In fact, it is the most common disease within the group of rheumatisms, accounting for 30 to 40% of consultations in the area of rheumatology.
Therefore, the parts of the body most likely to suffer from the symptoms of osteoarthritis are the hands, knees and the connection between the thigh and the hip. It is no coincidence that illness is the cause of 7.5% of absences from work in Brazil, in some cases resulting in retirement, as the person is unable to work due to illness.
Recently, digital influencer Silvia Braz shared with his followers on Instagram that he was diagnosed with the disease. She reported that she had been feeling pain and discomfort in one of her fingers for a while and then started to feel it in the other.
Ultimately, after a series of tests and consultations, it was discovered that she suffered from osteoarthritis. In her case it is a hereditary issue, as her mother and grandmother also have the disease. However, despite having a crooked finger, she reassured her followers, saying that it was nothing serious and that she would undergo appropriate treatment.
Below we will better understand the disease, its symptoms and how to treat osteoarthritis.
What is osteoarthritis?
It is a rheumatic disease that ends up causing the degeneration of the cartilage in the body’s joints. Osteoarthritis can affect areas such as the knee, shoulder, hip, spine and hands, being the most affected area. This results in inflammation of the affected area, mainly due to the contact of one bone with another, making movement difficult and causing a lot of pain.
Osteoarthritis can affect men and women, but it is much more common among women. Furthermore, the chances of developing the disease increase with age, as it is rare in people under 40 and very common in people over 60.
To give you an idea, after the age of 75, around 85% of people have some evidence of the disease. However, only 50% suffer from symptoms and changes.
Causes of osteoarthritis
The causes of osteoarthritis are not completely defined, however, it is known that it is the result of wear and tear on the joint, due to repetitive movements, trauma, among other factors. Furthermore, when there is no known cause, it is called primary osteoarthritis, and when there is an identified cause, it is secondary.
Below are some of the main factors that can cause the disease:
- Family history of the disease;
- Natural wear and tear on the joint, which occurs due to age;
- Overweight or obesity;
- Profession based on repetitive movements;
- Joint deformities;
- Muscle weakness;
- Joint misalignment;
- Injuries such as fractures, sprains or blows that affect the joint;
- Low bone density or osteoporosis;
- Systemic lupus erythematosus;
- Rheumatoid arthritis;
- Drop;
- Diabetes mellitus;
- Bone dysplasia;
- Repetitive efforts;
- Practice of sports that overload the joints;
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
The first symptoms observed include severe pain and difficulty carrying out daily activities. However, other symptoms may occur such as:
- Swelling and redness in the affected area;
- Lots of sensitivity in the joint;
- Loss of flexibility;
- More limited movements in the affected limb;
- Joint stiffness;
- Sensation of numbness or tingling;
- Presence of clicking noises when moving the joint;
- Feeling of sand when moving the joint;
Furthermore, As the disease progresses without treatment, it can result in more serious symptoms, such as deformities in the affected area.which can make everything even more painful.
Therefore, if you notice one or more of these symptoms, The ideal is to see an orthopedic doctor for a consultation and tests to determine the diagnosis.. So, if osteoarthritis is confirmed, you can start treatment as soon as possible.
Locations most affected by osteoarthritis
As previously stated, osteoarthritis can affect different parts of the body with cartilage, the most common of which are:
1 – Hands
The region most affected by the disease, mainly affecting the finger joints, especially the thumb. Therefore, it causes a lot of pain, swelling and even deformation of the fingers, as happened to influencer Silvia Braz. Furthermore, it is common for patients to struggle to perform common tasks, such as holding small objects such as pencils, due to a lack of strength.
2 – Knee
When osteoarthritis affects the knee cartilage, the symptoms are even more serious, as it can make it difficult and even impossible for a person to walk, go down or climb stairs. Normally, it affects both knees at the same time, but to different degrees.
3 – Hip
Osteoarthritis in the hip can compromise the joints that support the body’s weight. In this case, it can also cause problems for the person to move and walk.
4 – Column
So when osteoarthritis directly affects the spinewear is observed on the vertebrae, which can affect different regions of the spine, from the neck to the lower back. Therefore, causing a lot of pain and hindering the patient’s mobility.
5 – Shoulder
Finally, another region most affected by osteoarthritis: the shoulder. When the disease affects this region of the body, it also ends up affecting the neck and arms, consequently causing a lot of pain at the same time that moving them becomes much more difficult.
Diagnosis and treatment
The diagnosis must be made by an orthopedic doctor or rheumatologist. He will observe symptoms as well as family history and perform physical exams. Once this is done, he will indicate the best treatment.
However, it is important to emphasize that no treatment will slow the progression or reverse the disease, but it is necessary to control symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, the main objective here is to alleviate symptoms and help the person lead a normal life, free from pain and limitations.
The use of medications, such as analgesics or anti-inflammatories, may be indicated to control pain and inflammation. As well as physiotherapy which aims to strengthen the muscles around the region affected by osteoarthritis. In addition, electrical stimulators may be used to stimulate the joint. Therefore, increasing flexibility and reducing pain.
In cases of the disease affecting the knee or hip due to excess weight, one way of treating it may be through diet and nutritional monitoring, with the aim of losing weight in a healthy way.
In cases where the pain does not improve with oral medication, joint infiltration may be indicated. It involves an injection of corticosteroid medication directly into the joints. This method can improve pain for up to 12 weeks.
Finally, In more serious cases where neither medication nor physiotherapy provides satisfactory results, surgery may be indicated. Therefore, the joints are scraped or, in more extreme cases, the affected joint is removed and replaced with a prosthesis.
Prevention
However, the best treatment for osteoarthritis is always prevention. Therefore, there are some precautions and habits that can help prevent the onset of the disease. The main ones are:
- Have a healthy diet to avoid excessive weight gain;
- Have good body posture;
- Try to be careful when lifting weights;
- Pay attention to performing repetitive exercises;
- And avoid forced labor whenever possible.
Finally, There is no cure for the disease, what can be done is treatment to alleviate the symptoms and slow down its progress, in order to have a better quality of life.
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Bibliography:
- ABOULENAIN, S.; SABER, A. Y. PRIMARY IN: STATPEARLS (INTERNET). TREASURE ISLAND (FL): STATPEARLS PUBLISHING. Osteoarthritis. 2022. Available at:
- NHS. Arthritis. 2018. Available at:
Sources: Rheumatology BVSMS Drauzio Tua Saúde
