Osteoarthritis

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is also called arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Normally, there is cartilage covering the bone ends of each joint. Cartilage is a tissue that cushions the joint when it moves. In osteoarthritis, cartilage slowly wears away and the bones rub together. Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and often affects the hands, neck, lower back, knees, and hips.

What increases my risk for osteoarthritis?

Your risk for osteoarthritis is increased if:

• You are older.
  
  
• You are a woman.
  
  
• You are obese.
  
  
• You have a history of a bone or joint injury.
  
  
• You have certain diseases, such as diabetes.
  
  
• You do repetitive movements of your joints at work or during sports.

What are the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis?

• Joint pain that gets worse after exercise
  
  
• Swollen, stiff joints
  
  
• Decreased motion
  
  
• Hard, bony enlargement on your fingers or toes
  
  
• Grating or cracking sound when you move your joint

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken to give caregivers information about how your body is working. The blood may be taken from your hand, arm, or IV.
  
  
• X-ray: This is a picture of the bones and tissues in your joint. You may be given dye as a shot into your joint before the x-ray. This dye will help your joint show up better on the x-ray. Tell caregivers if you are allergic to dye, iodine, or seafood. A joint x-ray with dye is called an arthrogram.
  
  
• MRI: This scan uses powerful magnets and a computer to take pictures of your joint. You may be given dye before the test. Tell caregivers if you are allergic to dye, iodine, or seafood. Remove all jewelry, and tell caregivers if you have any metal in or on your body. Metal can cause serious injury. Tell caregivers if you cannot lie still or are afraid of closed spaces.
  
  
• Needle aspiration: Your caregiver will use a needle to drain the fluid from the joint. The fluid is sent to the lab for tests. These tests will show if you have osteoarthritis.

How is osteoarthritis treated?

The goal of treatment is to decrease pain, increase strength, and improve movement. You may need one or more of the following:

• Medicines:
  
  
  • Acetaminophen: This medicine is used to decrease pain. Talk to your caregiver before you take more than one medicine that contains acetaminophen. Too much acetaminophen can hurt your liver. Ask your caregiver before you take over-the-counter medicine if you also take prescription pain medicine.
    
    
  • NSAIDS: NSAIDs may be given to decrease pain. They may be given as a pill, gel, cream, or ointment. This medicine can generally be bought without a doctor's order. You will need a doctor's order if you need a stronger medicine. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems if they are not taken correctly.
    
    
  • Pain medicine: You may be given a prescription medicine to decrease severe pain if other pain medicines do not work. Take the medicine as directed. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine.
  
  
• Physical therapy: You may need to see a physical therapist to teach you special exercises. These exercises help improve movement and decrease pain. Physical therapy can also help improve strength and decrease your risk for loss of function.

How can I manage my symptoms?

• Activity: Avoid motions and activities that cause strain on your joints, such as jogging and heavy lifting. If your joints are very painful, rest or limit your activities until your symptoms improve. You may need to use crutches, a cane, or a walker to help decrease stress and strain on your joint.
  
  
• Lose weight: This helps decrease the strain on the joints in your back, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Talk to your primary healthcare provider about the best way to lose weight.
  
  
• Sleep on a firm mattress: Sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees to decrease pain in your back. You can also put pillows between your knees if you sleep on your side.
  
  
• Heat: Use a heating pad on a low heat setting to decrease joint pain and swelling. Heat brings blood to the sore area to relax the muscles. Do not sleep on the heating pad as it can burn you. A warm bath will also help your joints. Sit in a warm bath for 15 to 20 minutes every hour as long as you need to.
  
  
• Massage: Massaging the muscles around the joint may relieve pain and stiffness.
  
  
• Avoid cold: Cold temperatures may cause more pain in the affected joint. You may want to wear thermal underwear or avoid outdoor activity in cold weather.
  
  
• Wear flat or low-heeled shoes: This will help decrease the pain of arthritic toes and feet. Low-heeled shoes decrease strain on the ankle, knee, and hip joint.

What are the risks of osteoarthritis?

Joint pain and stiffness may get worse over time. You may have trouble doing your daily activities. If your pain is severe, you may need surgery to remove the damaged joint cartilage. Your entire joint may need to be fused together or replaced. Without treatment, osteoarthritis can cause severe pain and disability. You may not be able to use your joint at all.

When should I contact my caregiver?

Contact your caregiver if:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• Your joint is red and tender.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

When should I seek immediate care?

Seek care immediately or call 911 if:

• You have severe pain.
  
  
• You have increased swelling, pain, or redness of your joint.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Osteoarthritis