Osteoarthritis Orthopaedic Osteoarthritis is the inflammation of the joints that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone.
What could have contributed to osteoarthritis? • Age. Natural repair mechanisms become less efficient in some people as they age. • Obesity. Obese people are more likely to develop knee and hip osteoarthritis because of an increased load on their joints. • Previous joint injury. Joints with previous injury will have an increased risk of wear and tear. • Overuse of a joint. Overuse of certain joints increases the risk of osteoarthritis.
• Heredity. Some people inherited defect genes that are responsible for making cartilage. Symptoms • Pain. Your joints may ache or the pain may feel burning or sharp. • Stiffness. Getting up in the morning can be hard. Your joints may feel stiff and creaky for a short time until you get moving. You may also get stiff from sitting. • Muscle weakness. The muscles around the joint may get weaker. • Swelling. Osteoarthritis may cause a little swelling, especially in the knees. • Deformed joints. Joints can start to look like they are in the wrong shape, especially as arthritis gets worse. • Reduced range of motion and loss of use of the joint. As your arthritis gets worse, you may not be able to fully bend, flex, or extend your joints.
• Cracking and creaking. Your joints may make cracking and creaking sounds. • Sleep problems. The pain and stiffness of arthritis can disrupt sleep, and sleep problems may make it harder to cope with pain. Complications Severe arthritis affecting your hands or arms can make it difficult for you to do daily tasks. Arthritis of joints can keep you from walking comfortably or sitting up straight. In some cases, joints may become twisted and deformed. Treatment Arthritis treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving joint function. Medications • Analgesics. Your doctor will prescribe an appropriate pain relief medication. • Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These reduce both pain and inflammation. Oral NSAIDs may
cause stomach irritation and increase the risk of heart attack and/or stroke. Some NSAIDs of creams or gels can be applied on joints. Surgery for Arthritis If conservative measures fail, your doctor may suggest the following surgeries: • Joint replacement - This procedure removes the damaged and replaces with artificial joint. Most commonly replaced joints are hips and knees. • Joint fusion - This procedure is used for smaller joints, e.g. wrist, ankle and fingers. It locks the joint ends together to heal into one. Rehabilitation Physical therapy may help some types of arthritis. Exercises may improve range of motion and strengthen the muscles surrounding joints. In some cases, splints or braces may be required.
Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities of the National Healthcare Group. Admiralty Medical Centre • (65) 6807 8000 • www.admiraltymedicalcentre.com.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital • (65) 6555 8000 • www.ktph.com.sg Yishun Community Hospital • (65) 6807 8800 • www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg The information is correct at the time of printing and subject to revision without further notice.
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