Osteoarthritis: Don’t Let It Stop You

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the United States, affecting over 32.5 million adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is known as a “degenerative” condition or also known as “wear and tear.” This condition involves the breakdown of the cartilage that provides cushioning and smooth movement to the ends of our bones. Osteoarthritis mainly involves the neck, hands, shoulders, back, hips, knees, and feet.




Certain factors increase the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis, such as advanced aging, being overweight or obese (which puts more stress on your joints), and/or history of injury.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Loss of mobility
• Bone spurs

Diagnosis


In nearly all cases, an x-ray of the affected area will show a loss of cartilage between the bones. Most often this cartilage loss is asymmetric, meaning there is more loss in one part of the joint than in other parts of the joint. Lab testing is usually not necessary to make a diagnosis.




Treatment

• Pharmacologic (I.e., medications): Acetaminophen, oral NSAIDs, combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, topical analgesics (i.e. Capsaicin, Voltaren, etc.), oral or intraarticular steroid injections, and hyaluronic acid intraarticular injections (for persistent knee osteoarthritis)
• Non-pharmacologic: Physical therapy, bracing, splinting.
• Surgery: Used when less invasive treatments don’t provide the improvement the patient needs. Minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery may help in some cases. Ultimately, joint replacement may be indicated.

Prevention

1. Keep a healthy body weight. More weight means more force, especially on your back, hips and lower limbs. For example, the force applied to your knees when walking across level ground is equal to 1 ½ times your body weight. So, if you weigh 200 pounds, your knees experience 300 pounds of pressure with every step.
2. Control your blood sugar.
3. Be active every day. Aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity.
4. Incorporate chondroprotective nutrients in your diet such as ginger, pomegranate, and/or compounds extracted from green tea, turmeric, rosehips.
5. Prevent injury to your joints. Strengthen the muscles that support your joints – especially if you run or play sports – stretch daily, and avoid sudden stops, starts, and turns when possible.
6. Pay attention to pain.
7. Support your joints with the use of braces, tape, wraps and shoe inserts. If injured, use canes, a walker or crutches if needed.

Who can help?

• Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) about your activities and goals. Help us get to know what you love to do and what you expect to be able to do. If you experience symptoms, make an appointment so that we can get you connected with the right level of care. Need a PCP? St. Mary’s can help! https://www.stmaryshealthcaresystem.org/medical-group/primary-care
• Certified personal trainer. If you are an athlete – whether you are 18 or 80 – a personal trainer can help you achieve your goals with less risk of injury. St. Mary’s Wellness Centers in Athens and Lavonia offer personal training with discounts for members.
• Athens: https://www.stmaryshealthcaresystem.org/locations/st-mary-s-wellness-center.
• Lavonia: https://www.stmaryshealthcaresystem.org/locations/st-mary-s-sacred-heart-wellness-center
• Physical therapist. If you have a joint injury or are diagnosed with osteoarthritis, physical therapy can help you reduce pain, improve strength, restore range of motion, and possibly delay or even eliminate the need for surgery. St. Mary’s offers outpatient PT services in Athens, Lavonia and Greensboro
• https://www.stmaryshealthcaresystem.org/find-a-service-or-specialty/rehabilitation-services
• Surgeon. Modern surgical procedures are safer and more effective than ever at returning people with severe osteoarthritis to active living. Your PCP can provide a referral if an evaluation for surgery is indicated.

Dr. Crystal Bright is a board-certified family medicine physician practicing at Sacred Heart Primary Care in Lavonia. Her education includes a sports medicine fellowship at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., plus extensive hands-on experience in men’s and women’s sports medicine. She is accepting new patients and can be reached at 706.356.1422.