What is Osteoarthritis?
There is so much conflicting information on the internet about osteoarthritis, with much of it outdated, so this post is aiming to give you the most up to date advice and information to help if you're living with arthritis.
Osteoarthritis - it's not "wear and tear"
If you've been diagnosed with the most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, you may have heard it called "wear and tear" or "degeneration". This can sound quite scary and lead you to be cautious of your joints, which can lead to it really restricting your activities and ultimately your whole life.
Osteoarthritis isn't actually "wear and tear". The latest research has found that the swelling in the joints is caused by small areas of cartilage being repaired by the body- which is a normal, natural process. Once this process stops, the pain tends to significantly reduce or go completely.
What causes osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a normal process, just like getting grey hairs or wrinkles. A common misconception is that overworking your joints or exercising causes osteoarthritis, but this isn't true. The latest research has found that athletes are at no greater risk of developing osteoarthritis, unless they have had an injury in the joint previously.
Should I have a scan?
Osteoarthritis is generally diagnosed based on the symptoms you're experiencing and an examination. Sometimes x-rays can be helpful, but as we age we will all have normal changes in our joints that show up on x-ray - even without experiencing any pain or stiffness! So sometimes x-rays can cause more worry, without changing the treatment plan.
I have had patients come in with an x-ray report which is totally 'normal', but they're experiencing a lot of pain. I've also met people who have lots of changes on x-ray, but have absolutely no pain or stiffness in that joint. So sometimes scans can be helpful, but they're not always able to precisely explain what's causing the problem. A thorough discussion of your symptoms and physical examination are more important to understand why you're experiencing joint problems.
Are flares normal?
As I described above, if you experience symptoms of osteoarthritis, it's normal for them to flare up for a period of time and then ease. It can be helpful to notice if if there is a particular trigger, so that you can modify things to reduce the likelihood of a flare up.
Will I need an operation?
Some people experience changes in the joints that restrict their movements and cause more frequent flare ups. In these cases, surgery can sometimes be carried out, for example a joint replacement. However, surgery is only suitable when someone has tried all the self-management techniques, exercises and manual therapy without experiencing relief. So the majority of people with osteoarthritis won't need surgery, but it's there as an option if you do need it. The surgeon carries out lots of assessment to decide if it's the right course of action and discusses all the benefits versus risks before making a decision.
Further Reading
If you'd like to read more about osteoarthritis, here are some trustworthy resources. I will be following up this post with my best tips on how to manage the symptoms of osteoarthritis and I will add them to this list once published.
Arthritis Action Associated Practitioner
I'm registered as an Associated Practitioner with Arthritis Action. Members of the charity can receive two free sessions with me to discuss their arthritis, create a personalised plan to help self-manage their symptoms and receive some osteopathic treatment if required. For more information, visit the Arthritis Action website.
For more information, just drop me a message or give me a call on 07543 557746
About Zoë:
Zoë Clark is a registered osteopath who trained at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine, London.
Practicing at:
Howe Osteopaths, near Norwich
(01508 558373)
The Space, Burston, near Diss
(07543 557746)
References:
https://www.arthritisaction.org.uk
https://www.versusarthritis.org
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2542996/
https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2474-11-269
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956093/
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg177
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