Osteoarthritis is a disease that breaks down and eventually destroys the cartilage in joints of the body. Cartilage is very important in the body because it cushions the area between the joints and the bone. This disease is a form of arthritis, and there is currently no known cure. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in older people. In people under the age of 45, the disease is more common in men, but in people over the age of 55, it is more common with women.

The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain in the joints, especially after repetitive use, such as exercising. There can also be swelling and stiffness in the joints, often after periods of inactivity. Unlike other forms of arthritis, this disease doesn’t spread to other parts of the body and only affects the joints. There can be different levels of pain and stiffness depending on the person. For some people, osteoarthritis is debilitating, and for others it is just a minor inconvenience.

There are a variety of ways that osteoarthritis can be diagnosed. X-rays can be used to help point the doctor in the right direction for a diagnosis, and blood tests can be given to rule out other forms of arthritis. The doctor may also give a procedure called an arthrocentesis, which involves getting fluid from the joints for analysis, to diagnose osteoarthritis.

The treatment for osteoarthritis can vary from person to person. Usually it involves losing weight to lessen the pressure on the joints and avoiding excessive stress of the joints. For the pain that can be associated with osteoarthritis, mild pain receivers such as acetaminophen and aspirin can help reduce the inflammation and pain. Pain relieving crèmes, such as capsaicin and menthol are sometimes prescribed if the pain is very bad.

Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that destroys the cartilage in joints of the body. Because of these stiffness and pain happens in the joints. There is no cure for this disease, but there are treatment methods to help with the pain.