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Understanding Osteoarthritis
As the name suggests, osteoarthritis is a kind of arthritis and is also known as degenerative arthritis. It is usually a disorder whose risk factor increases with age and thus many people suffering from this problem are 55 years and above. In this kind of arthritis, there is a breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage. Given below are various symptoms and causes associated with osteoarthritis.
As mentioned above, osteoarthritis is a degenerative loss of cartilage in joints. Since it is a degenerative joint disease, it occurs as a result of wear and tear of cartilage with time. Osteoarthritis is a problem of joints and can affect joints in your hands, hips, knees and spine. Though it usually affects a single joint, in some cases, it can affect multiple joints at one time too. Obesity, repeated trauma or surgery to the joint structures, diabetes, gout, muscle weakness, hormonal factors and even genetics can lead to the problem of osteoarthritis.
Emphasizing the same fact again- osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints. Thus signs and symptoms of this problem are mostly related to joints. Some of the common symptoms include pain in joints after excessive using of it or even after some period of inactivity; tender and vulnerable joints; loss of flexibility making the joints stiff and rigid; and even a grating sensation while using of joints.
There can also be swelling and inflammation of the affected joint. Usually, a person suffering from osteoarthritis faces severe pain after repetitive use of the affected joint. Further, stiffness in the joints is mostly noticeable after the joints are inactive for a particular period of time. The most common joints affected by osteoarthritis include hands, hips, knees, and spine. However, unlike other kinds of arthritis, osteoarthritis does not affect other organs of the body.
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