Osteoarthritis: Degenerative Joint Disease

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Osteoarthritis
Introduction to Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis or also known as degenerative joint disease affects millions of people worldwide and is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused when the protective cartilage on the end of bones disintegrates over time this then causes the development of bony spurs and cysts at the margins of the joints. It can damage any of the joints in your body but it affects the hand, knee, hips and spine joints more commonly. The symptoms can normally be controlled but the process cannot be reversed at all.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are mainly pain and stiffness. When you use the joint the pain will get more intense and any stiffness in the joint will be …show more content…

Some of these include stiffness in a joint after being stationary for a long period of time, swelling or tenderness in one or more joints, a crunching feeling or the sound of a bone rubbing on another bone. Another cause of osteoarthritis is old age as research shows that you are more likely to have osteoarthritis if they’re over 50. Also it is more common in females because their tendons in the lower body are more elastic as they are designed to give birth. Also the alignment of a women’s body means that they are more prone to knee injuries and the injuries may lead to osteoarthritis in later life.
Effects of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis affects people in many different ways. One of the ways it can affect people is by damaging the joints; this will gradually develop over the years. For some people osteoarthritis is quite mild and influences daily life minimally. However in most people suffering with osteoarthritis it will cause significant pain and may even cause disability.
Diagnosis of

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