Title: what are the four stages of osteoarthritis?
1What are the four stages of osteoarthritis?
2- Osteoarthritis is a common condition that affects
joints, including the feet, shoulder, hips,
knees, and hands. - A robust, smooth, slippery coat covers the bone
surface called cartilage. This cartilage coating
helps your bones to move freely against each
other. - If a part of the cartilage becomes thin and the
bone surface becomes rougher, the bones will not
move freely. And this is the so-called wear and
tear of the joint. The knee, hip and small joints
of the hands are more prone to develop
osteoarthritis because of more frequent
weight-bearing and repetitive movement.
3What are the four stages of osteoarthritis?
- Stage 1 Minor
- Little to no pain
- Minor wear-and-tear of the joint
- Stage 2 Mild
- Stiffness sensation if you remain sedentary for a
while - You may require a brace
- Noticeable bone spur
4- Stage 3 Moderate
- Joint inflammation and discomfort while doing
everyday activities - Cartilage in the affected area starts getting
worn - Stage 4 Sever
- Overgrown spur formation in the affected joint
- Severe pain and swelling
- Joint inflammation followed by the complete
worn-out cartilage
5What happens if the cartilage becomes thin?
- Once the cartilage is damaged, the tissues within
the joint work actively to repair the damage.
This repair process may even change the joint
structure. In this process, you may get joint
pain, swelling, difficulty in joint movement, and
stiffness. Or else, there will be an additional
bone development at the edge of your joint called
osteophytes. These outgrowths will restrict your
movement by rubbing against the surrounding
tissues. - Furthermore, the synovium (joint capsule lining)
may also thicken and secrete more fluid. This
secretion will swell up the joint region. - Since joint regions cannot move freely, they may
develop cracking or grating sounds. The joint
structure will become less stable, followed by
the weakening of the muscles. - Usually, most of us develop osteoarthritis as we
grow older, even if we are unaware of it. The
degree of joint damage can determine the severity
of pain and mobility issues.
6What exactly causes osteoarthritis?
- One of the most common causes of osteoarthritis
is wear and tear. However, the risk of
developing osteoarthritis depends on the
following factors - Gender Osteoarthritis is more severe and
frequent in females compared to males. - Age Osteoarthritis more commonly develops in the
late 40s. The body changes include weak muscles,
reduced ability to heal itself, and weight gain
are the primary reasons as we age. - Obesity Obesity is a major risk factor,
especially when it comes to weight-bearing joints
like the hip and knee.
7What exactly causes osteoarthritis?
- Joint Injury and Abnormalities Repetitive
activities can increase the risk of joint
injuries that may lead to osteoarthritis. Other
joint abnormalities such as gout and rheumatoid
arthritis can cause osteoarthritis. - Heredity Mutation of genes that affect a
collagen protein may cause osteoarthritis at an
earlier age. - Weather Condition The changes in weather
conditions, especially the fall in atmospheric
pressure, can worsen osteoarthritiss pain and
other symptoms. However, weather changes are not
the cause of arthritis symptoms, but the cold
weather can undoubtedly worsen the symptoms.
8What are the target points affected by
osteoarthritis?
- All joints may develop osteoarthritis. However,
osteoarthritis mainly affects the knee, shoulder,
elbow, hip, spine, wrist, thumb, foot, ankle,
neck, back, jaw (temporomandibular joint), and
big toes.
9Is it possible to diagnose osteoarthritis?
- Yes. It is obligatory to diagnose accurately
before proceeding with osteoarthritis treatment. - The diagnosis of this condition is based on the
following - Symptoms the starting point and the severity
level of these symptoms - Physical examination
- Restricted movement
- Joint tenderness
10Is it possible to diagnose osteoarthritis?
- Swelling of bones
- Weakness of muscles surrounding the affected
joint - Joint instability
- Grating or creaking sensation of the joint region
called crepitus - X-ray examination to determine if there is any
calcium deposit in the joint region - MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) examination can
determine the possible bone or joint problems
that may trigger the above-listed symptoms
11Is it possible to treat osteoarthritis?
- Yes. The list of treatment methods that can
manage your osteoarthritis symptoms includes the
following - Initial home treatment RICE formula RICE
represents Rest, Ice application, Compression,
and Elevation. Take enough rest. Apply ice cubes
to the affected region by wrapping them in a
cloth. Wear compression bands to restrict the
movement of the affected joint region. While
taking a rest, keep the affected joint in an
elevated position above your chest. - Activity modification Try to modify the routine
activities until you find relief from arthritis
symptoms. For instance, if you are a runner, stop
running till your pain subsides. However, keep
walking instead of running to maintain an active
life. - Physical therapy Physical therapeutic exercises,
including strengthening exercises, range of
movement exercises, hydrotherapy, and aerobic
exercises, can relieve osteoarthritis symptoms.
Even cycling, walking, and swimming can help
people get relief from pain.
12Is it possible to treat osteoarthritis?
- NSAIDs Administration of NSAIDs (Non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs) can reduce pain,
swelling, and inflammation. However, physicians
do not recommend them for long due to their
significant side effects. - Corticosteroid injections Physicians recommend
corticosteroid injections in case medications
dont work. However, repeated steroids can weaken
the tendon around the affected joint region,
making it more painful. - Regenerative treatment A natural and minimally
invasive non-surgical orthobiologic treatment
that kick starts the healing process by treating
the underlying cause as well as symptoms of
osteoarthritis. - Surgery Physicians recommend surgery as the last
option to treat osteoarthritis. The varied
surgical options include - Joint replacement surgery
- Arthroscopic keyhole surgery to wash out loose
bone fragments from the affected joint region - Joint fusion The joints are fixed together to
prevent further movement. - Surgery has extensive post-surgical
rehabilitation and permanently alters the joint
in many osteoarthritis treatment cases. Hence,
trying out all non-surgical osteoarthritis
treatment options is advisable before surgery.
13How can Regenerative Medicine help in
osteoarthritis treatment?
- Regenerative medicine includes natural cellular
treatments like PRP Therapy, Stem Cell Treatment,
regenerative therapy, Goldic Treatment and
others. - Unlike the conventional treatment methods,
regenerative medicine treats the underlying cause
of the symptoms. And by healing, the underlying
cause can treat your symptoms as well. - It is a revolutionary method where physicians use
patients body cells for treatment. Hence, you do
not undergo any significant side effects like
allergy or rejection problems. Unlike other
conventional treatment methods, this
long-lasting, minimally invasive, and effective
treatment also has a shorter recovery time. It is
a same-day walk-in, walk-out procedure without
any overnight hospital stay.
14Time to take care of yourself
- Living with osteoarthritis can affect a person
emotionally and mentally. The continuous pain
disturbs the sleep routine, and eventually, it
will affect the persons mood. And finally, the
osteoarthritis pain will get on top of you. - If you feel low or are currently undergoing any
such underlying symptoms or joint pain, contact
Medica Stem Cells Clinic. Our medical team of
orthopaedic surgeons and doctors is here to
listen to your concerns and offer a suitable
solution without any delays. - Earlier is better! Regenerative treatment
intervention is likely to be more effective when
it is provided in the earlier stages of
osteoarthritis rather than later. Dont wait
until the pain becomes unbearable. Get it treated
as soon as you notice changes or pain in your
joint. So, reach out to us as soon as possible to
enjoy a long-lasting pain-free life.
15Read More
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