My Health - Bone and Joint Q & A

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the United States, affecting about 12 percent of Americans aged 25 - 74. It's a chronic joint disease that breaks down cartilage and bones in the neck, lower back, knees, hips, shoulders and/or fingers. Common symptoms are pain, numbness, stiffness and limited joint movement.

Osteoarthritis is classified as either primary or secondary. Primary has an unknown cause while secondary is caused by another disease, infection, injury or deformity.

What causes arthritis?

The following are some of the most common risk factors for osteoarthritis:

• heredity – Slight joint defects or double-jointedness may contribute to the development of arthritis.
• obesity – Excessive weight can put unbearable stress on joints.
• injury – Significant injury can eventually lead to arthritis.
• age – Arthritis is more common among the elderly, but even the very young can develop arthritis.
• gender – Women are more likely to develop arthritis.
• muscle weakness
• poor nutrition

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

The physician will begin with a complete medical history and a physical examination. During the exam, the doctor will look for an enlarged or bumpy joint, signs of swelling or decreased range of motion. Your health care provider may then order x-rays, which can show a decrease in the cartilage space, new bone formation or incorrect alignment. In rare cases, your doctor may perform a joint aspiration, the removal of fluid from a swollen bursa to exclude infection or gout as possible causes.

How is osteoarthritis treated?

There are many types of osteoarthritis treatments, often divided into two major groups – non-surgical and surgical.

Non-surgical therapies include medications such as acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other pain medications. Additional non-surgical options are nutritional supplementation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, exercise and weight loss.

There are also several different types of surgical interventions:

• Arthroscopy is a minimally-invasive procedure to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the joints. The physician begins by inserting an instrument called an arthroscope - a slender tube-shaped device equipped with a video camera, light and surgical tools - to view the internal structure of the joint. The arthroscope can also be used in conjunction with other surgical tools if the examination determines that further intervention is necessary. This could include cartilage removal, a tissue biopsy or other minor surgery.
• Arthroplasty is a surgical procedure to replace or restore a damaged joint to ease pain and improve mobility, thereby improving the patient’s quality of life. Artificial materials, such as metal, polyethylene or ceramics, are used to either resurface the joint or replace it totally with a prosthesis.
• An osteotomy involves the removal of a portion of bone to realign the joint as a temporary treatment for osteoarthritis.

Are there complementary or alternative therapies for osteoarthritis?

Although there is little evidence to support the benefit of chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture or herbal remedies for healing osteoarthritis, they may provide pain relief for an affected joint. It is important to communicate your use of complementary therapies to your health care provider to insure that these treatments do not interfere with your other medical conditions or therapies.

What can I do to prevent osteoarthritis?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the most important factor for preventing osteoarthritis. Eating the right foods, maintaining a healthy weight throughout your life and exercising regularly to strengthen muscles that protect the joints are three very important methods of reducing your risk of developing arthritis.

What is the difference between osteoporosis and osteoarthritis?

Osteoporosis refers to bone thinning, which leads to brittle bones and a greater risk of breaks. Everyone’s peak bone mass is reached at around the age of 35, and from then on, our bones start getting thinner. Osteoarthritis is the wearing down of cartilage in the joint. The body responds by developing new bone, but not necessarily in the correct position. This new bone may make some joints appear larger and misshapen. The bony growth and the loss of cartilage can make the space between the bones smaller leading to the bones rubbing against one another and interfering with the joint's normal function.

Learn more

For more information, visit the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Orthopedic and Arthritis Center Web page.