Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that involves cartilage destruction.
It usually presents with joint pain, joint swelling due to effusion, limitation on the range of movement and joint deformity.
It increases with age, worsened by weight gain and overuse of certain joints like in athletes.
History of bone fractures across a joint predisposes one to osteoarthritis.
Treatment is both pharmacological and non pharmacological.
Patients must realize that a cure and symptom-free state may not be achievable while physicians must understand the 3 Cs’ i.e. compliance, control and communication.
- Compliance- patients must take the medicines as prescribed, use assistive devices as advised and exercise
- Control is better when patients actively participate in the management of their condition and
- Communication; People remember
- 10% of what they read
- 20% of what they hear
- 50% of what they see and hear
- 70% of what they articulate
- 90% of what they articulate, do, or demonstrate
Physical therapy includes weight loss, aerobic exercise and use of assistive devices such as canes.
Pharmacological therapy involves use of drugs such as pain killers and steroid injections.