What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. Although OA can damage any joint, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips, and spine.
Common Causes and Risk Factors
The primary cause of OA is the gradual wear and tear on joints. Factors that can increase your risk include:
- Older Age: The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.
- Sex: Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isn't clear why.
- Obesity: Carrying extra body weight contributes to OA in several ways, and the more you weigh, the greater your risk.
- Joint Injuries: Injuries, such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident, can increase the risk of OA.
- Repetitive Stress: If your job or a hobby places repetitive stress on a joint, that joint might eventually develop OA.
- Genetics: Some people inherit a tendency to develop osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms include:
- Pain: Your joint may hurt during or after movement.
- Stiffness: Joint stiffness might be most noticeable upon waking up or after being inactive.
- Tenderness: Your joint might feel tender when you apply light pressure to or near it.
- Loss of Flexibility: You might not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.
- Grating Sensation: You might hear or feel a grating sensation when you use the joint.
- Bone Spurs: These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, can form around the affected joint.
Our Treatment Approach
While osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition, we can create a treatment plan to manage pain, improve joint function, and slow the disease's progression.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Conservative care is highly effective for many patients. This includes physical therapy, lifestyle modifications (like weight loss), supportive devices (like braces), and medications or injections to reduce pain and inflammation.
Surgical Treatments
If conservative treatments don't provide enough relief, surgery may be an option. Dr. Behrens specializes in advanced procedures including:
- Arthroscopy: A minimally invasive procedure to clean out damaged cartilage.
- Joint Replacement: Replacing the damaged joint with an artificial one (e.g., total knee or hip replacement) can provide significant pain relief and restore function.