So, you have received a diagnosis of osteoarthritis but how much do you know about the disease and are you clear what to expect or what your treatment options might be? Here are some of the key facts you need to know.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that affects the joints. It is the leading cause of disability around the world. There are different types of arthritis – which affects millions of people of all ages, both men and women, around the world – but osteoarthritis is the most common.
What causes it?
Osteoarthritis is caused by a loss of protective cartilage in the joints which normally cushions the ends of the bones and stops them from rubbing together. It is linked to ageing and is also referred to as wear and tear arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes irreversible joint damage and the condition gradually worsens over time. It can affect many different joints in the body, most commonly the hips, knees, hands and spine. It differs from rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune condition.
How common is it?
Osteoarthritis is extremely common – more than 40 million people across Europe are affected, nine million of whom in the UK. Between 10 and 15% of people over the age of 60 will develop the condition, which accounts for half of all musculoskeletal diseases.
Why is it so common?
Increased life expectancy and rising levels of obesity are contributing to osteoarthritis becoming one of the main causes of disability around the world. Greater reliance of motor vehicles and increased urbanisation are also factors and experts predict that levels of osteoarthritis will continue to rise.
According to the United Nations, people over the age of 60 will account for more than 20% of the world’s population by 2050 which means the number of osteoarthritis sufferers will reach 130 million. The majority (80%) of people with the condition suffer some degree of mobility limitation and a quarter are unable to perform day-to-day activities.
How is it treated?
There are many different treatments for osteoarthritis, depending on the severity of the condition as well as the general health of the patient. Orthopaedic surgeons will always recommend the least invasive treatments first as there is less risk of complications. Treatments for osteoarthritis include:
- Pain relieving medication and anti-inflammatories.
- Exercises to keep joints mobile and well lubricated.
- Lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy balanced diet to reduce inflammation, getting enough sleep to prevent fatigue and losing weight to reduce the stress on damaged joints.
- Physiotherapy and occupational therapy which can help you learn how to perform everyday tasks without damaging your joints.
- Injections of corticosteroids into the affected joint to relieve pain and inflammation.
- Splints for people with arthritis of the hand or wrist.
- Surgery to replace a severely damaged joint with an artificial implant. In some cases, partial joint replacement may be offered to preserve as much of the natural joint structure as possible.
Who has joint replacement surgery?
The average age for hip replacement surgery is 67.6 for men and 69.8 for women. For knee replacements, the respective ages are 69.2 and 69.6. More women (56%) than men undergo knee replacement surgery and 70% of shoulder replacement surgery is also performed on women.
The number of joint replacements have been rising year on year, although this is likely to show a drop in 2020 due to the impact of Covid-19. In 2015, 101,651 hip replacement procedures were recorded with the National Joint Registry – up 98,211 on the previous year. The number of knee replacements also rose – up by 104,695 in 2015 to 108,713.
Shoulder replacement surgery, while far less common than knee and hip replacements, is also increasing. In 2016 there were 6,967 shoulder replacements – up by 12.9% on the previous year.
What are the early signs of osteoarthritis?
The early signs of osteoarthritis include pain, stiffness and loss of mobility in the joints. As the condition progresses, pain may become severe and the joints may feel hot or painful to the touch. At its most severe, the pain of osteoarthritis is debilitating and this can have a significant impact on quality of life, sometimes leading to low mood and depression.
If you suspect you may have osteoarthritis it is important to get a diagnosis as early treatment may help to slow the progression of the disease. Your doctor will carry out a physical examination and may refer you for an ultrasound, MRI or X-ray to assess your joints and check for problems and inflammation. Blood tests may be used to rule out forms of inflammatory arthritis.
Talk to Joseph Queally for more information, a diagnosis or to discuss a treatment plan.
