Osteoarthritis is the most common form of all arthritis conditions that can affect all joints but has an affinity for the weight-bearing joints of the knee, hip and spine. While osteoarthritis is universal, it appears to have a hereditary tendency affecting both men and women, men usually before the age of 45 and women ages 45 and above. Initiating factors include primarily a poor diet, then trauma, and repetitive forceful stress to a joint.
Osteoarthritis is the loss of articular cartilage (the cartilage covering bones) which thins and eventually wears out, resulting in a “bone against bone” joint, reduced motion accompanied with pain. Progression includes concurrent subchondral bony sclerosis (located just below the cartilage) and bony proliferation at the joint margins and growth of osteophytes or bone spurs.
Osteoarthritis affects the joints exposed to high stress and is therefore considered the result of “wear and tear” rather than a true disease.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are a gradual onset of perhaps one or a few joints. Pain ensues that is deep, aching, worse with movement and better with rest and warmth. Stiffness is identified as worse in the morning upon rising and after periods of rest but improves with movement. Patients incur sleeping issues related to pain and stiffness. Cartilage in the joint spaces begins to wear and weakness of the joint when weight bearing is seen. Chronic conditions have acute flare-ups of pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Many patients find relief with improved diet and addition of supplements. Suggestions include glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, essential fatty acids and bosweillia acid, and cetyl myristoleate.
