Osteoarthritis

is a degenerative disease of the joints, usually accompanied by pain and stiffness. It causes a great deal of pain and discomfort to a large number of people and affects both males and females alike. The cause of the disease is not known but it is described as a degenerative disorder developing with age.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness and difficulty in moving some of the joints.

Diagnosis

There is no actual test that will diagnose osteoarthritis but if you are over 45 years old a diagnosis can be made from a physical examination from your GP, and tests to rule out other medical conditions.

Treatment

Depending on the severity of the osteoarthritis the treatment could be either to reduce the pain or to slow down the progression of the disease.

Painkillers will reduce the pain but not the inflammation, NSAIDs and Corticosteroids can reduce pain and help to reduce inflammation, whilst DMARDs can help to slow down the progression of the disease