To help determine whether you have osteoarthritis, a GP will first ask you about your symptoms and examine your joints. If your symptoms are slightly different, this may indicate another joint condition.
For example, prolonged joint stiffness in the morning can be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis. Further tests — such as X-rays or blood tests — are not usually necessary, but may be used to rule out other possible causes, such as rheumatoid arthritis or a fractured bone. Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and cannot be cured, but it doesn't necessarily get any worse over time and it can sometimes gradually improve.
A number of treatments are also available to reduce the symptoms. If your symptoms are more severe, you may need additional treatments such as painkillers and a structured exercise plan with a physiotherapist. In a small number of cases, where these treatments haven't helped or the damage to the joints is particularly severe, surgery may be done to repair, strengthen or replace a damaged joint. As osteoarthritis is a long-term condition, it's important you receive support to help you cope with any issues such as reduced mobility, and advice on any necessary financial support.
Some people may find it helpful to talk to their GP or others who are living with osteoarthritis, as there may be questions or worries you want to share. Find out more about living with osteoarthritis. It's not possible to prevent osteoarthritis altogether.
However, you may be able to minimise your risk of developing the condition by avoiding injury and living a healthy lifestyle. Avoid exercise that puts strain on your joints and forces them to bear an excessive load, such as running and weight training. Instead, try exercises such as swimming and cycling, where the strain on your joints is more controlled. Try to do at least minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or fast walking every week, plus strength exercises on 2 or more days each week that work the major muscle groups, to keep yourself generally healthy.
Find out more about health and fitness , including tips on simple exercises you can do at home. It can also help to maintain good posture at all times and avoid staying in the same position for too long.
If you work at a desk, make sure your chair is at the correct height, and take regular breaks to move around. Applying a hot-water bottle, wrapped in a towel to protect your skin, or a wheat-bag that you heat up in a microwave can help to ease pain. An ice pack, again wrapped in a towel to protect your skin, often helps to reduce swelling and discomfort. Ice can be applied for up to 20 minutes every couple of hours.
These can be particularly helpful if osteoarthritis has affected the alignment of a joint. Choosing comfortable, supportive shoes can make a difference not only to your feet, but also to other weight-bearing joints including the knees, hips and spinal joints.
In general, the ideal shoe would have a thick but soft sole, soft uppers, and plenty of room at the toes and the ball of the foot.
When held in the opposite hand, it can also help to reduce pressure on a painful knee or hip. When your posture is good, your body will feel more relaxed. Think about your posture throughout the day.
Check yourself while walking, at work, while driving, or while watching TV. If your pain varies from day to day, it can be tempting to take on too much on your good days, leading to more pain afterwards. Learn to pace yourself. If there are jobs that often increase your pain, try to break them down, allow time for rest breaks, and alternate with jobs that you find easier. Or think about other ways of doing a job that would cause less pain.
Depending on which joints are affected, there are lots of aids and adaptations to help you around the home, and some fairly simple changes can make a big difference. You may be able to get help with the costs of obtaining aids or having adaptations to your home. Wherever you live, the first step is to ask your local authority for a needs assessment. Most people with arthritis can continue in their jobs, although you may need to make some changes to your working environment, especially if you have a physically demanding job.
Contact your local JobCentre Plus for information about Access to Work, a government initiative to help people overcome barriers to starting or keeping a job. The allowance covers any extra costs or expenses students have because of a disability.
For more information, visit the Disability Rights UK website. Information is available on the National Rail website about station accessibility, train and station facilities, and assistance options. Transport for London offers similar information on their website and has produced a guide to avoiding stairs on the London Tube network. Other local authorities and transport providers produce similar guides to accessible bus, train and minicab services, and some run their own transport schemes.
The emotional effects of arthritis can have just as much impact as the physical symptoms. Severe or long-term pain that affects your daily life and possibly disturbs your sleep can affect your mood. From time to time, your arthritis may get on top of you. You can also call our helpline on , who will listen and offer emotional support. The changes in cartilage that occur with osteoarthritis can encourage crystals to form within the joint.
These may be:. Research is helping us to understand more about the causes of osteoarthritis, and to develop new treatments. It was worse when I woke up in the morning.
The pain when I walked upstairs was excruciating. And with my hands it was terrible. I would struggle to do things like open doors, tie my laces or put the top on a bottle of water. My doctor did blood tests and I was then referred to the rheumatology department at the hospital. The rheumatologist told me it was osteoarthritis. I joined the gym in the March of It was obvious then that there were only certain things that I could go on, but I did a Pilates class once a week and that was good for flexibility.
You can then walk a bit further over the course of a few days or weeks. After three weeks with Shane, I could already walk upstairs without any pain. Once I got started, I became curious about how much I could do. It can be a vicious circle; if I seize up, I find it harder to start exercising again! As well as becoming more active, I decided to take a good look at what I was eating. I started eating only good food and got rid of all the rubbish.
I feel so much better. Set yourself realistic targets and just keep pushing yourself a little bit more. You can read more of our supporter stories on our Your stories page.
Osteoarthritis OA. Download osteoarthritis information booklet. Print this page. What is osteoarthritis? Watch our video about what osteoarthritis is. For example: Extra bone may form at the edge of the joint.
These bony growths are called osteophytes and can sometimes restrict movement or rub against other tissues. In some joints, especially the finger joints, these may be visible as firm, knobbly swellings.
The lining of the joint capsule called the synovium may thicken and produce more fluid than normal, causing the joint to swell. Tissues that surround the joint and help to support it may stretch so that after a time the joint becomes less stable. Related information. The affected joint may sometimes be swollen.
The swelling may be: hard and knobbly, especially in the finger joints, caused by the growth of extra bone soft, caused by thickening of the joint lining and extra fluid inside the joint capsule. How will osteoarthritis affect me? Which joints are affected? What tests are there for osteoarthritis? Managing symptoms. These include: lifestyle changes pain relief medications physical therapies supplements and complementary treatments.
Physical activity Weight loss and diet Medications Other pain relief treatments Complementary medicine for osteoarthritis Surgery. Physical activity. There are three types of exercise you should try to include: Range of movement exercises These exercises involve taking joints through a range of movement that feels comfortable and then smoothly and gently easing them just a little bit further.
Strengthening exercises These are exercises performed against some form of resistance to strengthen the muscles that move and support your joints. Changes in the ability to move the joint. Feeling that the joint is loose or unstable. As your symptoms get worse over time, some activities may be difficult to do, such as: Stepping up.
Getting on or off the toilet or in and out of a chair. Gripping a pan. Walking across a parking lot. What causes it? What causes osteoarthritis? Certain factors may make it more likely for you to develop the disease, including: Aging. Being overweight or obese.
History of injury or surgery to a joint. Overuse from repeated movements of the joint. Joints that do not form correctly.
Family history of osteoarthritis. Is there a test for it? Is there a test for osteoarthritis? Your doctor may do the following to see if you have the condition: Ask for a medical history, and give you a physical exam. Order images of your joint using x-rays or magnetic resonance imaging MRI. Run blood tests to rule out other causes for symptoms. Take joint fluid samples to look for other causes of joint pain, such as infection or gout.
How is it treated? How is osteoarthritis treated? The goals of your treatment for osteoarthritis include: Reducing pain and other symptoms. Improving joint function. Stopping the disease from getting worse. Maintaining your quality of life. Treating osteoarthritis usually includes: Exercising, which can lower joint pain and stiffness and increase flexibility and muscle strength. Speak to your doctor or physical therapist about a safe, well-rounded exercise program.
Remember to start any exercise program slowly and take the time to adjust to the new level of activity. Managing your weight to help lower the stress on joints. In addition, if you are overweight or obese, losing weight can help to lower pain, prevent more injury, and improve movement in your joints. This can be especially helpful for your knees or hips.
Using braces or orthotics that your doctor prescribes and that are fitted by a health care professional.
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