All About Osteoarthritis

Each year in October, World Arthritis Day is held to raise awareness of the impact of arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. About half of adults will have knee pain from OA at some point in their lifetime – and sometimes younger than you’d expect. 30% of people are diagnosed with osteoarthritis before the age of 45.

What is osteoarthritis?

OA is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the protective cartilage cushioning the ends of your bones gradually wears down over time. While it frequently impacts the knees, hips, hands, and spine, OA is not just a disease of "worn-out cartilage.” It affects the entire joint, including the bone, ligaments, and joint lining.

What are some signs I might have osteoarthritis?

The symptoms of OA usually develop slowly and worsen over time. Key warning signs include:

• Pain: Joints ache during or after movement.
• Stiffness: Noticeable right after waking up or after a period of inactivity (often called "jelling"), which typically clears up within 30 minutes of moving around.
• Flexibility loss: An inability to move the joint through its full range of motion.
• Grating or popping: A feeling or sound of friction when using the joint.
• Bone spurs: Hard lumps that form around the affected joint.
• Swelling: Mild swelling caused by soft tissue inflammation.

What’s the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?

While both cause joint pain, their underlying causes are entirely different. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition caused by mechanical wear-and-tear of the joint tissues over time.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), on the other hand, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease. In RA, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy lining of the joints, causing severe, symmetrical swelling (e.g., both wrists at once), systemic fatigue, and potentially affecting other organs. Morning stiffness in RA also lasts much longer—often more than 30 minutes.

Q: What causes osteoarthritis?

OA is caused by a cellular breakdown and mechanical imbalance in the joint. When a joint is overloaded or damaged, the protective cartilage begins to fray and thin. As the cushioning disappears, bone rubs directly against bone, causing structural changes, bone spurs, and low-grade localized inflammation that compromises the joint's stability.

Q: Who is most at risk for osteoarthritis?

Several factors increase the likelihood of developing OA, including:

• Age: The risk increases as you grow older.
• Biological sex: Women are more likely to develop OA than men, especially after menopause.
• Obesity: Carrying excess weight places extra physical stress on weight-bearing joints like hips and knees. Additionally, fat tissue produces proteins that can cause harmful systemic inflammation.
• Joint injuries: Past sports injuries, accidents, or fractures accelerate joint degeneration later in life.
• Repetitive stress: Occupations or hobbies that require repetitive strain on a specific joint.
• Genetics: A family history of joint issues or osteoarthritis increases risk.

Q: What can I do to prevent arthritis?

There’s nothing you can do to guarantee that you won’t get osteoarthritis. However, some of the risk factors above can be proactively managed:  

1. Maintain a healthy weight: Losing just 1 pound of weight removes 4-5 pounds of pressure from your knees with every step you take.
2. Stay active: Engage in regular, low-impact exercise (like cycling, swimming, or walking) to strengthen the muscles that support the joints.
3. Prevent injuries: Use proper lifting techniques and wear protective gear during sports to avoid joint trauma.

Q: What can I do to treat arthritis?

Although joint damage from OA can’t be reversed, symptoms can be highly manageable. Treatment can include:

• Physical & Occupational Therapy to improve joint mobility, build surrounding muscle strength, and learn ergonomic ways to complete daily tasks.
• Over-the-counter or prescription medications or creams can reduce swelling and ease pain.
• Corticosteroid injections can provide temporary relief from severe pain and inflammation.
• Lifestyle modifications like a low-impact exercise routine, weight loss, or using supportive tools like braces, shoe inserts, or canes can also help.

Q: When do I need surgery for osteoarthritis?

Surgery usually becomes an option when conservative treatments (lifestyle changes, therapy, and medications) no longer provide relief, and the joint pain severely interferes with your sleep, mobility, and independence. The most common surgical intervention is total joint replacement (arthroplasty), where the damaged joint surfaces are replaced with plastic and metal parts.

Q: What does surgery recovery look like?

Recovery depends heavily on the specific joint replaced (e.g., hip vs. knee) and your baseline health. For major surgeries like a total hip or knee replacement, physical therapy begins almost immediately - often the very same day or the day after surgery. You will use assistive devices like a walker or cane for a few weeks. Most patients can return to light daily activities within 3 to 6 weeks, though full recovery and structural healing can take anywhere from 3 months to a full year.

Q: What type of doctor should I see if I’m worried about arthritis?

Start by making an appointment with your primary care physician or family doctor. They can perform an initial physical exam, order baseline X-rays, and rule out other conditions. Depending on your diagnosis, they may refer you to a rheumatologist (a specialist in inflammatory and autoimmune joint conditions) or an orthopedic surgeon (a specialist who manages structural joint damage and surgeries).

If you think you may have osteoarthritis, reach out to MMI, a division of the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, where board certified orthopedic surgeons and rheumatologists are available to help.

(301)694-8311

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