Generalized osteoarthritis symptoms
Osteoarthritis occurs because the cartilage gets worn away. There are some risk factors that are thought to be involved in this process. Some of these are age, sex, and genetics. Local factors include prior injury to the joint, deformity in the joint, obesity and muscle weakness. Other modifiable factors include nutrition and possibly hormones. Symptoms of osteoarthritis are generally limited to the joint involved. Patients usually experience pain when they use the joint and the symptoms go away with rest. Patients may have some stiffness, when they first use a joint. If the arthritis is severe, patients may lose functional capacity in the joint that has osteoarthritis. For example, in severe osteoarthritis of the knee, a patient may experience such severe pain that they stop walking or going up and down stairs. Stiffness with inactivity is common. Patients may also complain of pain at night. The joint can have bony enlargement and bumpiness. Patients with osteoarthritis of the hands can get knobs on the finger joints. There is usually minimal swelling of the involved joint. The joints can have decreased range-of-motion. Often the doctor will order radiographs (X-rays) of the joint. These radiographs can show a decrease in the cartilage space, new bone formation and incorrect alignment. Although osteoarthritis could potentially occur in any joint of the body, it most commonly is found in the major weight bearing joints of the body. Some of the most common joints involved include: The hip is one of the major weight bearing joints of the body. In younger patients, hip osteoarthritis occurs because the individual has an imperfect ball and socket joint- something that occurred when the hips were developing. In older patients, it is the result of wear and tear over time. Hip arthritis causes groin pain and knee pain. Activities that can become difficult include walking, tying one's shoes, and crossing one's legs. The knee is the other most common place to develop osteoarthritis. Patients will often complain of pain with walking and, over time, limit their walking distance. The knees can develop a bony prominence and a crunching sound with movement.
Hand osteoarthritis is very common, especially in women. Most women will experience this type of arthritis at some point in their life. Bony overgrowth occurs at the joints of the fingers. These growths, which are called Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes, occur in the sets of joints closest to the fingertips. Pain, swelling and redness occur during the bony deposition, which lasts anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. After that, most patients are just left with bony deposits on their joints but no pain and no loss of function. Individuals can also get arthritis at the base of the thumb. The cervical (neck) and lumber (lower back) spine is composed of vertebral bodies that are connected by joints and have cushioning discs between levels. Over time, these joints are subject to wear and tear, which can cause osteoarthritis and disc degeneration. This can lead to pain in the neck, and the upper and lower back. Other joints such as the ankle, elbow and shoulder are less susceptible to osteoarthritis.
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