What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (AH-stee-oh-ar-THREYE-tis) is the most common form of arthritis,
with rheumatoid arthritis in a distant second. Osteoarthritis is also known
as degenerative joint disease, OA, or osteoarthrosis. It is what people generally
think of when they think of arthritis, as it commonly affects middle aged
to elderly individuals but it can strike almost any age or as a result of
injury.
Is there a cure for
arthritis?
At the current time, there is no cure for arthritis.
What causes the pain?
Joints consist of bones, with various types of sockets or connections that
link one bone end to another. Some bones just slide across each other, while
others like the hip joint use a ball and socket. Between the bone ends there
is a protective, slippery layer known as cartilage (KAR-til-uj). Whenever
you move a joint, bones rub together with the cartilage padding the between.
For people without arthritis, the cartilage's job is to protect the
bones when they rub against each other by acting as a shock absorber or cushion.
Think of it as a thick Teflon® (Teflon® is a registered trademark
of DuPont) coating for the joints. In osteoarthritis, that coating breaks
down over and wears away. When the cartilage is thin or gone, bones can rub
directly together.
What are the results?
While bones can break, most of the time they are very strong and rigid. When
they rub together directly on each other, the immediate result is pain, swelling,
and a loss of mobility. If this continues, the ends of the bone may even
lose their original shape, causing deformities. Bone spurs (osteophytes) – small
growths on the bone that make the surface even less smooth – can grow.
Small pieces of bone or cartilage can break off and float around inside the
joint, further causing pain and inflammation. In severe cases of osteoarthritis,
you can sometimes even hear the bones making a grinding noise as they rub
together. As you can see, osteoarthritis is one of the worst forms of arthritis
due to the continual effects it has on people's joints.
How can I tell
if I have osteoarthritis?
Only your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of osteoarthritis, but some
warning signs may include pain in weight bearing joints such as the knee or
hip, pain during joint movement, swelling of the joints or even pain in your
joints during strenuous activities. An X-ray will generally confirm the presence
of osteoarthritis. Most people over the age of 60 will have radiographic (x-ray)
evidence of the disease. Roughly one third will have active symptoms.
Who is at risk?
Anybody over the age of 45 is in the greatest risk range for developing osteoarthritis.
Women are slightly more at risk than men, for reasons that we do not fully
understand yet.
How can I deal
with it?
If you are experiencing decreased flexibility, you should strongly consider
trying liquid glucosamine Flexicose. Glucosamine is not a
treatment for arthritis, but it has been clinically shown to ease joint discomfort,
increase flexibility, and promote healthy cartilage. Flexicose contains 1,500
mg of superior-quality liquid glucosamine per 1/4 oz serving. Flexicose also contains 12 other
joint discomfort easing ingredients such as Chondroitin, MSM, Omega 3, Manganese
and Niacinamide. Flexicose is affordable and backed by a 90 day money back
guarantee. Learn more about
Flexicose now or simply order
now and get free shipping to the United States.
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