Osteoarthritis: Senior Aches and Pains

The aches and pains we jokingly attribute to “getting older” may not be such a laughing matter for some seniors. When the pain and stiffness interrupts daily routines and makes it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, it may be time to check with your doctor. Your body may be prematurely slowing you down, and there may be a preventable or manageable cause: osteoarthritis.

What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis that affects seniors. The pain, swelling, and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis is caused primarily when the cartilage in the joints that usually acts as a cushion between bones becomes worn down and eventually disappears altogether, allowing the bones to rub against each other. Sometimes boney spurs form and muscles or ligaments attached to the bone become weak further compounding the problem.

What is the cause of osteoarthritis?

Science has not procured a single known cause of osteoarthritis, but research points to several contributing factors which increase your risk of having osteoarthritis:
Family history of osteoarthritis
Carrying excess weight
Fractures or joint injuries
Long-term over-use, repetitive motion, or high-impact sports activities

Patients who have any of the following medical conditions also have a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis:
Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia
Disorders that inhibit blood circulation near a joint, such as avascular necrosis
Other types of arthritis such as chronic gout, pseudo gout, or rheumatoid arthritis

How do you know if you might be at risk for having osteoarthritis?

Symptoms of osteoarthritis::
Do you experience:

…deep aching joint pain in hands, knees, hips, or spine that worsens especially after exercising or gaining weight?

…a grating sensation in the joint when you move?

…pain even when you are at rest?

…an increase in pain during humid or rainy weather?

…visible joint swelling?

…any loss of mobility or range of motion?

…muscle weakness around painful joints?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, it doesn’t mean you have Osteoarthritis, but it does mean you should ask your doctor about it. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease, so depending on how long you have had it, you may experience the above symptoms more or less severely. You may not experience all of the symptoms,, or you may not experience any of the symptoms, but you may still be at risk for having osteoarthritis. Since many ailments share similar symptoms, the above symptoms could indicate something else all together, but if you do experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor and ask about osteoarthritis.

Treatments
There are many helpful treatments available to reduce and slow down the effects of osteoarthritis with timely and proper treatment. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and which joints are affected, your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following treatment options:

Medications
Over-the-counter pain relievers (Tylenol), nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen), or the prescription drug, Celebrex, are the most commonly prescribed treatments for osteoarthritis patients. Long term use of the above medications can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, so use must be monitored by your doctor.

Corticosteroids are often injected right into painful, swollen joint to reduce pain and swelling, but are not usually prescribed as long-term solutions since they only relive pain for a limited time.

The dietary supplement, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, has reportedly provided some relief to some osteoarthritis patients. Often doctors recommend a 3 month trial period using this supplement to see if their patients improve.

A topically applied pain relief cream, Capsaicin (Zostrix) skin cream, may be prescribed. Patients often do not feel relief until after 1-2 weeks of consistent application to the painful joint.

Synvisc or Hyalgan, an artificial joint fluid is often injected directly into the joint. Pain relief from this treatment usually lasts 3-6 months.

Exercise
Based on the affected joints, a specialized exercise program may be recommended by your doctor. Appropriate exercise can help maintain or even increase your joint mobility, strength, and overall movement. Osteoarthritis patients are often encouraged to engage in water exercises such as swimming and water aerobics because they work the entire body, but are gentle on your joints.

Physical therapy
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist for physical therapy. A physical therapist knows specific exercises and stretches for strengthening the joints and connected muscles, increasing range of motion, and decreasing pain and inflammation. Your therapist may also recommend applying heat to relax your muscles or cold to reduce swelling, and a brace, splint, or wrap to help support or immobilize the joint properly. Improper support could lead to loss of mobility, increased stiffness, or injury, so you should always seek your doctor or physical therapist’s advice on appropriate supports.

Weight loss
Carrying extra pounds places more stress on the joints, so changes in diet and exercise may be recommended by your doctor to drop the extra pounds and relieve pressure on your joints. A healthy, well balanced diet and adequate rest will also promote healing in your muscles, ligaments and joints.

Workplace alterations
If your work causes excessive stress on certain joints, your doctor or physical therapist may recommend strategies to reduce trauma on your joints. Or you may need to request modifications be made to your work area to help you function without putting added strain on your joints.

Surgery
Severe cases of osteoarthritis may require surgery to replace or repair damaged joints. Surgery options are:

Hip or knee replacement
Arthroscopic surgery to trim torn and damaged cartilage (osteotomy)
Surgical fusion of bones, usually in the spine (arthrodesis)
Realignment of bones to relieve stress

Osteoarthritis doesn’t have to keep you down. The effects of “old age” might be reversible or at least improved. Ask your doctor about osteoarthritis.