Our Specialties Include
- Spinal and Orthopaedic Surgery
- Brain / Neurosurgery
- Intracranial Disease Alternatives
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Pain Management Services
- Joint Replacement
- Gender Knee Replacements
- Artificial Disc Replacement
- Kyphoplasty
- Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Programs
- Sports Medicine Specialists
Osteoarthritis Treatment for Slidell, Covington & Mandeville
Osteoarthritis, also known as “wear-and-tear arthritis” is a condition affecting about 20 million Americans. This degenerative joint disease is the most common form of arthritis and causes painful inflammation in the affected joint.
While everyone’s bones and joints break down to an extent over the course of life, not everyone develops the painful symptoms of arthritis associated with the gradual wear-and-tear of our bones. By understanding the condition better and following the advice of a physiatrist, you can increase your odds of keeping your joints pain free.
How Osteoarthritis Develops
In a joint affected by osteoarthritis, the fluid that cushions and lubricates the joint, known as synovial fluid, can break down and lose its ability to cushion your joint. The cartilage protecting the ends of bones also deteriorates, causing bone to rub against bone. The result is pain, stiffness, and a limited range of movement.
The severity of osteoarthritis differs from person to person and can change over time due to a number of factors, including weather and chemical changes in the body. Your doctor may describe your condition as being mild, moderate or severe.
Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis
The following factors have been identified as increasing the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis:
- Age – because osteoarthritis is a wear-and-tear condition, osteoarthritis is more likely to present itself in older patients
- Obesity – excess weight adds a significant amount of stress to the hips and knees
- Gender – osteoarthritis occurs twice as often in women as it does in men
Quick Facts on Osteoarthritis
- 1 out of 3 Americans suffer from some type of arthritic condition
- One pound of excess weight accounts for four pounds of excess stress on knee and hip joints
- Osteoarthritis can begin developing as early as age twenty. These cases are typically athletes working beyond capacity or who have sustained injuries
- By age fifty you may have walked more than 75,000 miles, giving your knees significant wear-and-tear degradation
If osteoarthritis is detected in its early stages, you may be able to impede its progression. When treated before it degrades to a terminal stage, you can aid your body in naturally repairing your bones from the damage of osteoarthritis.
Last Modified: December 28, 2010