What is osteoarthritis?

11:38 am in Osteoarthritis by Ankush K. (admin)

Osteoarthritis

When a person walks, whole of body weight is transferred from thigh to knee, knee to calf and finally to ankle. As you can see in the picture below, whenever a person walks pressure is transferred from Femur (thigh bone) to Tibia (shin or calf bone) by support of ligaments and meniscus. Meniscus acts as a shock absorber or cushion which is supported by ligaments to let knee joint move in right direction.

knee joint structure

srtucture knee joint

In Osteoarthritis there is friction between knee bones due to improper gap and alignment. This is mostly because of reduced synovial fluid (water content in cartilage), cartilage and meniscus, as you can see in picture below when there is less cushion or damaged ligament a person cannot walk properly and limping is most common sign of it which anyone can notice. Cartilage loses elasticity and is more easily damaged by injury or use. It can be usually found in old aged people, diabetic patient, injury, hormonal disorders, obesity, pregnancy and many more. These are main reason for knee pain.

arthritis knee joint

arthritis knee joint pain

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1. Arthritis pain initially started from one joint
2. Was your arthritis pain gradual and not sudden
3. Does pain is mild to moderate usually, does it becomes more intense after a period of increased activity and after repetitive use of joint
4. Does your pain around the joint diminish after a period of rest
5. Stiffness in morning last within or more than 30 minutes
6. Does your knee affected joint has ever buckled under you when going down steps or stepping off a curb
7. Does your hip is your affected joint, do you feel any problem while walking and have pain around your hip, groin, and down your thigh
8. Does your affected joint has ever lowered the full range of motion
9. Do you have crackling sound in the affected joints
10. Does your x-rays reflected osteophytes or spurs
11. Does your joints become more achey or you feel more pain due to change in the weather pattern
12. Do you feel any enlargements of bones near the small joints of your fingers
13. Does your blood work show signs of inflammation, like elevated ESR (sedrate) or CRP
14. Do you feel decreased lubrication around affected joints
15. Does anyone in your family is suffering from osteoarthritis
16. Since how long or since what time you are feeling pain around joints
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