What is Osteo-arthritis?
Osteo-arthritis (OA) is a disease of joints characterised by cartilage destruction and new bone formation.
Although not fully understood, genetic and biochemical factors play a part in who will develop symptoms and OA tends to run in families.
In OA the surface layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away so that the surface becomes rough instead of smooth. This causes the bones under the cartilage to rub together. Pain, swelling and loss of joint movement tend to occur. The joint may also lose its normal shape.
In fingers, cysts form leading to painful swellings. In other areas as the cartilage and underlying bone breaks down, the body attempts to repair the damage by producing more bone. This leads to thickening of the bone ends together with the production of bony spurs, called ‘osteophytes’ which grow out into the joint. Bits of bone and/or cartilage may break off and float inside the joint. This combination of changes leads to increasing pain and further damage to the affected joint.
People with osteo-arthritis often have joint pain and reduced movement in the affected joint (s). Unlike some other forms of arthritis such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), OA only affects joints. It does not affect internal organs and does not make people generally unwell.
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