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Mother had arthritis as a senior citizen that later put her in a wheelchair. At age 62, I'm starting to develop some of the same symptoms. It seemed like her arthritis took over fast. How can I avoid the same fate?
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It's easy to assume as we get older that any joint pain must be osteoarthritis, often jokingly referred to as "Uncle Arthur" or "Arthur Itis". This is all the more true if we observed a close family member (such as a parent) go through the same thing.
But, in fact, there are many other possible causes of joint pain such as tumors, metabolic bone disease, osteomyelitis (infection), neurologic problems, and ligament instability. How does the physician make the diagnosis?
It's a multi-step process from taking your history to performing a physical exam and then ordering appropriate tests. The physician knows to look for involvement of specific joints including the spine, hips, knees, thumbs, and middle joints of the fingers.
The most common symptoms reported by patients with osteoarthritis are joint pain, joint stiffness, and creaking, snapping, or cracking of the joints with movement, a phenomenon called crepitus. The pain and stiffness eventually cause loss of motion and function. Over time, joint deformity may occur as well. A noticeable limp may develop.
Morning stiffness that gradually gets better with movement in the first 20 to 30 minutes after getting out of bed or after sitting for too long is another red flag. In fact, so many patients experience this symptom, it has been given a name: the gelling effect or sensation.
A single symptom doesn't define osteoarthritis. Just having joint pain or stiffness isn't enough to know you have osteoarthritis. There is usually a collection of three or more of the common signs and symptoms along with joint changes seen on X-rays needed to confirm the diagnosis.
An accurate diagnosis is the key here. Before jumping to any conclusions, make an appointment with your primary care physician and discuss your symptoms and concerns. Once it is clear what is causing the symptoms, then the appropriate treatment can be recommended. Early intervention will give you the best results, so you are right not to delay finding out what's going on and what to do about it.
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*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. |
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