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WHAT
ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS?
The
pain of osteoarthritis almost always begins gradually, progressing
slowly over many years. People under 40 may have the condition
with no symptoms at all. Osteoarthritis is commonly identified
by the following symptoms:
-
Aching
pain in one or more joints, stiffness, and loss of mobility.
-
Inflammation
may or may not be present.
- Stiffness
tends to follow periods of inactivity, such as sleep or sitting,
and can be eased by stretching and exercise.
- The
pain may behave like a roller coaster, with bad spells followed
by periods of relative relief.
- Pain
seems to increase in humid weather.
- It
often worsens after extensive use of the joint and is more likely
to occur at night than in the morning. As the disease advances,
the pain may occur even when the joint is at rest and can keep
a sufferer awake at night.
- Osteoarthritis
in the knee may cause a crackling like noise (called crepitus)
when moved.
WHAT
OTHER CONDITIONS SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS OSTEOARTHRITIS?
It
would be impossible to discuss in this report all the numerous conditions
that have symptoms of joint aches and pains. Something as benign
as sleeping on a bad mattress to the serious afflictions associated
with cancer can mirror symptoms of osteoarthritis. Other problems
that can cause aches and pains in the joints include physical injuries,
infections, and poor circulation. A number of rare genetic diseases
attack the joints.
Osteoarthritis
can generally be distinguished from other joint diseases by considering
a number of factors together: osteoarthritis usually occurs in older
people and is located in only one or a few joints; the joints are
less inflamed than in other arthritic conditions, and progression
of pain is almost always gradual.
A
few of the most common disorders that can be confused with, or may
even accompany, osteoarthritis are worth noting.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis may be confused with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly
when osteoarthritis affects multiple joints in the body. Rheumatoid
arthritis begins in the synovial membrane rather than the cartilage.
It normally occurs earlier in life than osteoarthritis, often striking
people in their 30s and 40s. Many joints are affected, and rheumatoid
arthritis often occurs symmetrically on both sides of the body.
People generally have morning stiffness that lasts for at least
an hour. (Stiffness from osteoarthritis usually clears up within
half an hour.) X-rays show changes in the bones that differ from
those occurring in osteoarthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, blood
tests often show a specific antibody, known as rheumatoid factor,
that is not present with osteoarthritis. In another blood test,
levels of a factor called erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are
often elevated in rheumatoid arthritis, but they are generally normal
in osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis also does not usually show
up in the fingertips where osteoarthritis is common.
Chondrocalcinosis
Chondrocalcinosis is a disease in which certain calcium crystals
known as CPPD (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate) are deposited in
the joints. It may affect 25% of the population and can accompany
and even exacerbate osteoarthritis. The problem has been called
pseudogout or pseudo-osteoarthritis, in the latter case particularly
when it affects the knees. A physician can usually differentiate
between the two disorders, however, because chondrocalcinosis usually
damages other joints (such as wrists, elbows, and shoulders) that
are not normally affected by osteoarthritis.
Charcot's Joints
Charcot's joint occurs when an underlying disease, usually diabetes,
causes nerve damage in the joint, which leads to swelling, bleeding,
increased temperature, and changes in bone. There may be a loss
of sensation that leads to an increased risk for injury from overuse.
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