Blueprint for Health
A Patient Teaching Aid
Osteoarthritis: Anatomy of a Joint
by GT Staff| Geriatric Times |  |
September/October 2000 | |
Vol. I | |
Issue 3 |
Healthy joints, where the ends of bones meet, are cushioned by cartilage, a layer of smooth pliable tissue that allows the joint to move easily. Enclosing the joint is a pad-like sac (the bursa), which is lined with the synovial membrane. The synovial membrane produces a fluid that reduces friction and wear in the joint. Ligaments connect the bones and keep the joint stable. Muscles and tendons power the joint and enable it to move.
What Is Arthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is what people most often mean when they speak of arthritis. It occurs in more than half of adults aged 65 and older. Symptoms range from occasional stiffness and mild pain to severe joint pain and disability. In OA, the cartilage cushioning the bone ends gradually wears away. As bone rubs against bone, the joint loses shape and alignment. Bone growths called spurs may form around the edges of the joint, making it look knobby and swollen. Osteoarthritis usually affects the hands, hips, knees and spine. People whose family members have arthritis, who are overweight, who have experienced a serious joint injury or who are not physically active are at highest risk for OA.
Medications. Your physician may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), to control pain. Corticosteroids (synthetic versions of the hormone cortisone) are injected directly into the joint and are usually reserved for severe inflammation and when other medications fail to bring relief. Physicians use them with caution, because they have serious side effects.
Exercise. If it is tailored to your needs and abilities and is combined with an appropriate amount of recovery time, exercise keeps your joints moving, reduces pain and improves muscle strength. Your physician can help you determine which exercises are best for you.
Heat/cold therapy. Soaking in a warm bath or applying towel-wrapped cold packs to your joints may reduce pain. Your physician can determine whether these treatments are appropriate.
Weight control. Losing weight reduces stress on your weight-bearing joints.
Joint protection and proper body mechanics. Using canes, crutches, walkers or splints relieves strain or stress on your joints. Physical and occupational therapists can show you how to use your joints with minimum discomfort or exertion.
Surgery. Surgery is usually performed only in severe, disabling cases of OA. Most people with OA do not need surgery. If surgery is recommended, it is best to get a second opinion.
Support groups and education. The more you know about your illness, the more successful your treatment is likely to be. Contact your local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation or contact the national office at (800)283-7800. You can also call the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases at (301)495-4484 or toll free at (877) 226-4267.
(Sources: Information for this handout came from the Arthritis Foundation, the American Medical Association, the National Institute on Aging, Harvard Medical School's Consumer Health Information and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)
- Steady or intermittent pain in a joint
- Stiffness after getting out of bed
- Joint swelling or tenderness in one or more joints
- A crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone
- Hot, red or tender? Probably not OA. Check with your doctor about other causes, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Not always pain. Not everyone with OA feels pain; only one-third of people with OA in their X-rays report pain or other symptoms.
* Signs and symptoms may vary with form of arthritis