OA, also called degenerative joint disease, is a condition that affects the joints (where two bones meet) in the body. The disease causes the cartilage in a joint to break down, often resulting in pain, swelling and stiffness. Cartilage is the tissue that cushions the ends of bones and allows joints to move easily. OA also can cause bone spurs to grow around the joints. While it is the leading cause of disability in the U.S., there are different ways to help manage the disease. Getting diagnosed and starting treatment early can help set the stage for living well with OA.

OA is the most common joint disorder in the body. It affects 30% of people ages 45 to 64, and 68% of those over age 65.

The causes of OA are not entirely known. The older you get, the more likely you are to develop OA. But not all older people develop the disease. It is more than “wear and tear” on a joint, as people often think. Many of the joints you use the most are rarely affected by the disease.

Some of the major causes include: 1) disorders in the cells of the cartilage, 2) family history, 3) any force that leads to changes in the cartilage such as injury, overloading the joint, damage to a ligament (tissue that connects bones or cartilage at a joint), muscle wasting, diseases that lead to joint deposits, and 4) inflammation.

OA may be classified as inflammatory or noninflammatory. In noninflammatory OA, patients tend to have pain and difficulty doing some activities. In inflammatory OA, patients also have a joint that is hot and swollen, nighttime pain, and morning stiffness.

OA tends to strike the following joints:

• Cervical spine (neck)
• Lumbar spine (lower back)
• Hips
• Knees
• Base of the big toe
• Base of the thumb
• Those closest to the fingertips

What is the usual treatment for osteoarthritis?

OA is usually treated by managing any troubling symptoms. This is done through medications and changes in lifestyle, such as avoiding further injury to the affected joint and balancing activity with rest. Standard drug treatment includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other pain killers. NSAIDs are more helpful if the OA is inflammatory rather than noninflammatory. If you have inflammation, a combination of acetaminophen and NSAIDs is likely to be helpful. Viscosupplementation may be used for arthritic knees if other treatments are no longer helpful. It involves injecting a thick fluid into the knee. Newer approaches for OA are geared toward prevention of the disease or removing its underlying causes. Work is underway to develop drugs that can change the course of the disease. At this time there is no way to prevent or cure OA