Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic (long-lasting) form of arthritis caused by the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone.

Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint in your body, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips, and spine.

CAUSES

1. Primary (idiopathic) osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis not resulting from injury or disease, is partly a result of natural aging of the joint. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases, and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates as a function of biologic processes. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses.

Repetitive use of the worn joints over the years can mechanically irritate and inflame the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling.

2. Secondary osteoarthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that is caused by another disease or condition. Diseases that may increase your risk of osteoarthritis include:

• Older age. The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.
• Sex. Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isn’t clear why.
• Obesity. Carrying extra body weight contributes to osteoarthritis in several ways, and the more you weigh, the greater your risk. Increased weight puts added stress on weight-bearing joints, such as your hips and knees. In addition, fat tissue produces proteins that may cause harmful inflammation in and around your joints.
• Joint injuries. Injuries, such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident, may increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Even injuries that occurred many years ago and seemingly healed can increase your risk of osteoarthritis.
• Certain occupations. If your job includes tasks that place repetitive stress on a particular joint, that joint may eventually develop osteoarthritis.
• Genetics. Some people inherit a tendency to develop osteoarthritis.
• Bone deformities. Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage, which can increase the risk of osteoarthritis.

SYMPTOMS

Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Pain. Your joint may hurt during or after movement.
• Tenderness. Your joint may feel tender when you apply light pressure to it.
• Stiffness. Joint stiffness may be most noticeable when you wake up in the morning or after a period of inactivity.
• Loss of flexibility. You may not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.
• Grating sensation. You may hear or feel a grating sensation when you use the joint.
• Bone spurs. These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, may form around the affected joint.

DIAGNOSIS

During the physical exam, your doctor will closely examine your affected joint, checking for tenderness, swelling or redness, and for the range of motion in the joint. Your doctor may also recommend imaging tests.

Imaging tests

Pictures of the affected joint can be obtained during imaging tests. Examples include:

• X-rays. Cartilage doesn’t show up on X-ray images, but cartilage loss is revealed by a narrowing of the space between the bones in your joint. An X-ray may also show bone spurs around a joint. Some people may have X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis before they experience any symptoms.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of bone and soft tissues, including cartilage. An MRI isn’t commonly needed to diagnose osteoarthritis but may help provide more information in complex cases.
• Arthrocentesis is a procedure to remove joint fluid that is often performed in a health care professional’s office. During arthrocentesis, a sterile needle is used to remove joint fluid for analysis. Joint fluid analysis is useful in excluding gout, infection, and other causes of arthritis. Removal of joint fluid and injection of corticosteroids into the joints during arthrocentesis can help relieve pain, swelling, and inflammation.
• Arthroscopy is a surgical technique whereby a doctor inserts a viewing tube into the joint space. Abnormalities of and damage to the cartilage and ligaments can be detected and sometimes repaired through the arthroscope. If successful, patients can recover from the arthroscopic surgery much more quickly than from open joint surgery.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT-

Homeopathic medicines provide symptomatic relief in Osteoarthritis. The medicines are selected basis the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using Homoeopathic holistic approach.

Following remedies are highly effective in the treatment of Osteoarthritis:

Calcarea Phosphoricum

• Stiffness and soreness of the joints.
• Aching in the bones and tiredness.
• Calcium deposits or bone-spurs may develop, especially in the neck

Ledum Palustre

• Arthritis starts in lower joints and extends to higher joints.
• Pain and inflammation often begin in the toes and spread up through the ankles and knees.
• The joints may make cracking sounds and may be very swollen.

Pulsatilla

• Pain that moves unpredictably from one joint to another.
• The hips and knees are often affected, and pain may be felt in the heels.
• Symptoms are worse from warmth, and better from cold applications and open air.

Rhus Toxicodendron

• This relieves muscular and articular pains at the beginning of motion and then improved by slow motion.

Ruta Graveolens

• Arthritis with a feeling of great stiffness and lameness.
• Tendons and the capsules of the joints may be affected.
• Arthritis developed after overuse, from repeated wear and tear.

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