Osteoarthritis Pain

Osteoarthritis pain is generally described as a sharp ache, or a burning sensation in the associated muscles and tendons.

Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease is a group of diseases and mechanical irregularities or abnormalities entailing degradation of joints. It includes articular cartilage and the subchondral bone next to it. The term “osteoarthritis” is derived from the Greek word “osteo” that means of the bone, “arthro” meaning joint, and “itis”, which means inflammation.

Osteoarthritis pain and its clinical symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, inflammation, creaking, and locking of joints. Initiation of the process that leads to cause loss of cartilage – a strong protein matrix that lubricates and cushions your joints – can be caused by a variety of potential forces such as hereditary, developmental, mechanical and metabolic. When the bone surfaces become less well protected by cartilage, subchondral bone could be exposed and damaged, with regrowth leading to a proliferation of ivory-like, dense, reactive bone in central areas of cartilage loss, a process called eburnation. A patient highly experiences pain upon weight bearing activities, including simple walking and standing. Because of the decreased movement cause by the pain, regional muscles may atrophy, and ligaments can become more lax.

Osteoarthritis or OA is the most common form of arthritis, which can lead causes of chronic disability. The process of OA takes time to develop, and while age is correlated typically it is not present in younger people.

Osteoarthritis Pain Symptoms

The main symptom of Osteoarthritis pain is acute pain which causes loss of ability and often stiffness. OA can cause a crackling noise called crepitus when the affected joints are moved or even touched, where patients may experience muscle spasms and contractions of the tendons. For some cases, the joints may also be filled with fluid. Humid and cold weather increases the pain for most of the patients. As OA progresses, the affected joints appear larger or bigger, that can cause severe pain, thus distinguishing it from rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis pain commonly affects the hands, feet pain, spine, and the large weight bearing joints like your hips and knees, and the more these parts of your body are used throughout the day, the more pain becomes intense.

Take action today and partner with your healthcare provider in order to more aggressively manage your osteoarthritis pain.