Most osteoarthritis is managed with pain medication
By DR. KOMOROFF Universal Uclick on Aug 22, 2013, at 2:21 AM Updated on 8/22/13 at 8:13 AM
Health & Fitness
Dear Doctor K: I have hypertension. Should I be monitoring my blood pressure at home?
Dear Doctor K: After my last mammogram, the doctor told me I have dense breasts. Does this increase my risk of cancer?
Dear Doctor K: My joints hurt. Does that mean I have osteoarthritis?
Dear Reader: There are many different kinds of arthritis. They all damage the cartilage, the flexible tissue lining joints. Every joint is a spot where two (or more) bones meet. The cartilage in a joint keeps bone from rubbing against bone.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. I am one of its victims: It ruined my right hip and required a total hip replacement. Medical research is starting to understand what leads to the slow degeneration of cartilage seen in osteoarthritis, but we still don't have a complete picture.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis usually develop over many years. The first sign is often joint pain after strenuous activity or overusing a joint. Joints may be stiff in the morning but loosen up after a few minutes of movement. As the condition gets worse, the pain becomes more continuous. The joint may be mildly tender much of the time, and movement may cause a crackling or grating sensation. Some people have continuous pain that is bad enough to interfere with sleep.
If you suspect you have osteoarthritis, see your doctor. Your doctor will make the diagnosis based on your description of symptoms, a physical examination and perhaps some additional tests.
Prepare for your appointment by making a list of your symptoms and the circumstances under which they occur. Do you notice them during or after a particular activity? Are they worse first thing in the morning? Your symptoms - what they are, when they first began and how they've changed over time - provide important clues for your doctor.
If you do have osteoarthritis, treatment will help you manage your pain and preserve the function of your affected joints. Most people just require pain medicines. But when a joint is badly damaged and the pain can't be controlled, joint replacement surgery can fix the problem. It surely has for me.
Write Dr. K at
www.AskDoctorK.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106
Health & Fitness
Dear Doctor K: I have hypertension. Should I be monitoring my blood pressure at home?
Dear Doctor K: After my last mammogram, the doctor told me I have dense breasts. Does this increase my risk of cancer?
