Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammatory disorder common to many people as they age. Joint pain and stiffness often occurs in the knees, back, hips, neck, feet and hands and typically develops gradually over years. However if you've had joint injury, almost any area can be affected. Pain from OA is often worse after activity and at the end of the day.
How do I know if my joint pain is because of osteoarthritis?
We diagnose most arthritis of this type from your description of the pain, its course, and from the distribution of joints affected. Early on, X-rays are negative but as the disease progresses, they can show joint space narrowing (a sign of cartilage loss) and bone spurs. We may use blood tests to make sure other diseases aren't causing your pain but there is no blood test that can show osteoarthritis.
What do you recommend for early osteoarthritis?
I start by suggesting lifestyle interventions. For people with foot, knee, hip and/or back arthritis, I look first at your footwear and often suggest better support, like you might get from running shoes. Orthotics are also sometimes useful. Being overweight often makes pain in these areas worse, so we will discuss weight loss ideas.
Overuse can worsen pain, so taking frequent breaks in activities such as typing, painting, and walking can be helpful. Regular moderate exercise strengthens and stabilizes joints thus reducing the effects of OA. Swimming is one of the best exercises for people with OA.
Given that OA is caused by inflammation, icing after activities can be beneficial.
Are there medicines that can help with pain from osteoarthritis?
Glucosamine, a non Food and Drug Administration-regulated supplement, can be very helpful. I typically recommend 2,000 milligrams daily.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the FDA-regulated drugs most often used. Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) and naprosyn (Aleve) are two that you can buy in a store. Other prescription NSAIDs are also available that sometimes can work better and can be taken less frequently than those without prescription.
Is there anything else available for more advanced osteoarthritis?
Most family physicians can inject knees with a small amount of steroid medication to help with pain. Because this is done directly in the joint, there is little to no effect on the rest of the body. While most people do get relief, complications occasionally occur, so this is typically not a first-line treatment.
Orthopedic specialists can remove severely affected hips and knees and replace them with artificial joints.
Melissa Weakland M.D. is a board-certified family physician at Ballard Neighborhood Doctors www.ballarddocs.com or 206-297-7678.[[In-content Ad]]
