How long for osteoarthritis to develop

There are different stages of knee osteoarthritis OA , with 0 assigned to a normal, healthy knee right up to the advanced stage 4, that is severe OA.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found that the number of people suffering from knee pain disorder is gradually rising, with approximately 1 in 2 people likely to develop symptomatic knee OA in their lifetime leading to significant impact on health, workplace productivity and economic costs.

OA pain is easily identifiable through diagnostics and common symptoms. Some people who suffer from immense osteoarthritis knee pain may only show mild changes on x-ray, so it is extremely important to concentrate on the symptoms, rather than just the x-rays. Here is a look at the stages of osteoarthritis of the knee ranging from normal, minor, mild, moderate and severe stages, with appropriate treatment plans. When the knee shows no signs of osteoarthritis, it is classified as Stage 0, which is normal knee health, with no known impairment or signs of joint damage.

However, at this stage it is unlikely you will feel pain or discomfort. If the patient is not predisposed to OA, orthopedic physicians may not recommend any special treatment for stage 1. However, supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin may be recommended.

Lifestyle considerations like regular exercise may also prove to be helpful. In Stage 2, diagnostic images or X-rays of knee joints will show more bone spur growth, and though the space between the bones appear normal, people will begin experiencing symptoms of joint pain.

Typically, the area around the knee joints will feel stiff and uncomfortable, particularly when sitting for an extended period, after rising in the morning, or after a workout.

Though the cartilage and soft tissues remains at a healthy size, there is proteolytic breakdown of the cartilage matrix from an increased production of enzymes, such as metalloproteinases. When your physician detects and diagnoses OA at this early stage, it is easier to follow a plan to stop the progression of this joint disease.

There are different nonpharmacologic therapies to help relieve the pain and discomfort caused in this mild stage. Many patients are recommended a strict regimen of exercise and strength training for increased joint stability.

Additionally, braces, knee supports or shoe inserts may be used to protect the knee from stress. There are proteoglycan and collagen fragments released into the synovial fluid as the disease progresses, wherein the bones develop spurs at the joints as it becomes rougher.

With the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee, there is obvious joint inflammation which causes frequent pain when walking, running, squatting, extending or kneeling. Along with joint stiffness after sitting for long or when waking up in the morning, there may be popping or snapping sounds when walking.

If these methods are not effective, the orthopedic doctor may prescribe stronger pain medicine, such as codeine and oxycodone. Patients that have not responded positively to physical therapy, weight loss program, use of NSAIDs may require viscosupplementation, which are intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid into the knee joint. Stage 4 is considered to be severe. They may affect minor molecules in the joint, changing the metabolism of joint structures, or they may change the shape of a joint during growth, leaving slight defects in the way bones that come together in joints fit together.

This may cause cartilage to wear away more quickly than normal. Double-jointedness, an inherited trait where the joints bend farther than usual, may also increase risk for osteoarthritis.

The warning signs of osteoarthritis include steady joint pain or intermittent pain that usually worsens with activity, brief stiffness after getting out of bed, joint swelling or tenderness in one or more joints and a crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone.

No single test can diagnose osteoarthritis. Most health care professionals use a combination of the following methods to diagnose the disease and rule out other conditions:.

It is usually not difficult to tell if a patient has osteoarthritis. It is more difficult to tell if the disease is causing the patient's symptoms. Osteoarthritis is so common, especially in older people, that it may mask other conditions that are actually responsible for symptoms.

A health care professional will try to find out what is causing the symptoms, ruling out other disorders and identifying conditions that may make the symptoms worse. Not everyone with osteoarthritis feels pain. In fact, about one-third of people for whom X-rays show evidence of osteoarthritis report pain or other symptoms.

The most common way to measure pain is for a health care professional to ask you about it. For example, you may be asked to describe the level of pain you feel on a scale of one to Use specific words to describe your pain-like aching, burning, stinging or throbbing to better convey what is happening.

It's also important to describe if and where the pain travels for example, from the groin down to the knee. Since health care professionals rely on your description of pain to help guide treatment, you may want to keep a pain diary to record your pain sensations.

On a daily basis, describe the situations that cause or alter the intensity of your pain, the sensations and severity of your pain and your reactions to the pain. For example: "On Monday night, sharp pains in my knees produced by housework interfered with my sleep; on Tuesday morning, because of the pain, I had a hard time getting out bed. However, I coped with the pain by taking my medication and applying ice to my knees.

A successful treatment program for osteoarthritis may involve a combination of therapies tailored to your needs, lifestyle and health.

Work closely with your health care provider to help create the most effective treatment for you. In addition to the guidance of your primary health care professional, you may need care from a physical therapist, a rheumatologist a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders that affect the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones or a physiatrist a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and management of injuries and diseases causing pain, loss of function and disability.

Treatment plans often include the use of exercise, massage, heat, relaxation techniques, splints and braces and local injections to relieve pain. Osteoarthritis treatment plans also often include ways to manage pain and improve function. Such plans can involve exercise, rest and joint care, pain relief, weight control, medications, surgery and nontraditional treatments.

If you are diagnosed with osteoarthritis, you may be prescribed a variety of medicines to eliminate or reduce pain and to improve functioning. Health care professionals consider a number of factors when choosing medicines for their patients with osteoarthritis.

Two important factors are the nature of the pain and a drug's potential side effects. You must use medicines carefully, and tell your health care professional about any changes that occur. Health care professionals may prescribe several other medications for osteoarthritis. They include:. Medicines used to treat osteoarthritis may have side effects, so it is important to learn about the drugs you are taking. Even nonprescription drugs should be reviewed. Certain patients may be at greater risk for side effects, such as those with a history of peptic ulcers or digestive tract bleeding, those taking oral corticosteroids or anticoagulants blood thinners , those who smoke and those who consume alcohol.

The risk of certain side effects in some osteoarthritis medications may be reduced by taking the drug with food. Some patients should avoid stomach irritants such as alcohol, tobacco and caffeine.

Other medicines may be taken to protect the stomach lining by coating the stomach or blocking stomach acids. These measures help but are not always completely effective. While many osteoarthritis risk factors—being female, older and having other diseases that affect the bones and joints—cannot be changed, you can work on several other risk factors to lower your risk of developing the condition:.

Review the following Questions to Ask about osteoarthritis so you're prepared to discuss this important health issue with your health care professional. For information and support on coping with Osteoarthritis, please see the recommended organizations and books listed below. Box Atlanta, GA Hotline: Laurel, NJ Phone: Email: oarsi oarsi. McIlwain and Debra Fulghum Bruce. Nelson, Ph. D, Kristin Baker, Ph. D, Lawrence Lindner, M.

The most lead-contaminated neighborhoods in cities are often the poorest and home to the highest percentage of nonwhite children. Your Health. Your Wellness. Your Care. Real Women, Real Stories. Home osteoarthritis. Medically Reviewed. Overview What Is It? Hands: Osteoarthritis of the fingers is the one type of the disease that seems to be predominantly hereditary. More women than men have it, and risk increases after menopause. Small, bony knobs appear on the end joints of the fingers.

They are called Heberden's nodes. Similar knobs called Bouchard's nodes can appear on the middle joints of the fingers. Fingers can become enlarged and gnarled and may ache or be stiff and numb. The base of the thumb joint is also commonly affected by osteoarthritis.

This kind of osteoarthritis can be helped by medications, splints or heat treatment. Knees: The knees are among the body's main weight-bearing joints. They are also among the joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis. An afflicted knee may be stiff, swollen and painful, making it hard to walk, climb or get in and out of chairs and bathtubs. If not treated, osteoarthritis in the knee can lead to disability.

However, even with treatment, osteoarthritis may progress. Medications, losing weight, exercise and walking aids can reduce pain and disability. In severe cases, knee replacement surgery may be required. Research studies show that being overweight increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knees and show that injuries to the knee are a major cause of disease.

Hips: Osteoarthritis in the hip can cause pain, stiffness and severe disability. People most often feel the pain in their groin, front of thighs or knees.

Walking aids, such as canes or walkers, can reduce stress on the hip. Osteoarthritis in the hip may limit moving and bending. This can make daily activities such as dressing and foot care a challenge. Walking aids, medication and exercise can help relieve pain and improve motion. A health care professional may recommend hip replacement if the pain is severe and not helped by other treatments.

Diagnosis The warning signs of osteoarthritis include steady joint pain or intermittent pain that usually worsens with activity, brief stiffness after getting out of bed, joint swelling or tenderness in one or more joints and a crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone. Most health care professionals use a combination of the following methods to diagnose the disease and rule out other conditions: Clinical history.

The health care professional will begin by asking you to describe your symptoms, and when and how the condition started. Be sure to provide an accurate description of pain, such as what makes it worse or better, stiffness and joint function and how they have changed over time.

You should also share information on other medical conditions and any medicines you are taking. Physical examination. The health care professional will check your general health and examine joints that bother you, as well as your reflexes and muscle strength. He or she will observe your ability to walk, bend and carry out activities of daily living. X-rays and other imaging techniques. X-rays can show how much joint damage has been done; they may show such things as cartilage loss, bone damage and bone spurs.

But there is often a big difference between the severity of osteoarthritis that the X-ray shows and the degree of pain and disability the patient has. In addition, X-rays may not show early osteoarthritis damage before much cartilage loss has taken place. Other types of imaging tests may also be used to look for damage that cannot be seen on X-ray, such as magnetic resonance imaging MRI or ultrasound. Other tests.

A health care professional may order blood tests to rule out other possible causes of your arthritis. Another common test includes "joint aspiration," or "arthrocentesis," during which fluid is drawn from the joint for examination. The fluid can be examined to see if it contains the crystals that cause gout or pseudogout or if it is moderately or severely inflamed, which suggests you have rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment A successful treatment program for osteoarthritis may involve a combination of therapies tailored to your needs, lifestyle and health. In general, osteoarthritis treatment has three general goals: Control pain through drugs and other measures. Improve joint care through rest and exercise. Maintain an appropriate body weight and achieve a healthy lifestyle.

The following types of medicines are commonly used in treating osteoarthritis: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. These drugs all reduce inflammation or swelling and relieve pain. NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation or affect kidney function and blood pressure. NSAIDs are associated with serious gastrointestinal problems, including ulcers, bleeding and perforation.

They should be used with caution in people over 65 and in those with any history of ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding, congestive heart failure, renal insufficiency and hypertension. It's important to ask your health care professional for safety information associated with pain relievers with your personal health history in mind.

Celecoxib Celebrex is currently the only COX-2 inhibitor on the market. Celebrex may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke; discuss these risks with your health care professional. For more information on the risks associated with Celebrex, visit www. Such preparations are much safer to use because lower levels of medication reach the bloodstream, and they don't pass through the stomach.

Acetaminophen Tylenol. Its availability over the counter, low cost and mild side effects make it a good choice for treating mild arthritis pain, but NSAIDS are usually more effective for patients with moderate to severe pain. Long-term use of acetaminophen taken multiple times daily may be associated with liver damage or inflammation of the kidneys nephritis.

Patients with liver disease and heavy alcohol drinkers should not use acetaminophen without first talking to a health care professional. They include: Tramadol hydrochloride Ultram. Ultram is a prescription narcotic analgesic that provides pain relief for short-term acute flare-ups of osteoarthritis with fewer side effects than NSAIDs. Your shared experiences will help: - Lead to more effective treatments and outcomes - Develop programs to meet the needs of you and your community - Shape a powerful agenda that fights for you Now is the time to make your voice count, for yourself and the entire arthritis community.

Currently this program is for the adult arthritis community. Since the needs of the juvenile arthritis JA community are unique, we are currently working with experts to develop a customized experience for JA families.

Get Started. As a partner, you will help the Arthritis Foundation provide life-changing resources, science, advocacy and community connections for people with arthritis, the nations leading cause of disability. Join us today and help lead the way as a Champion of Yes. Our Trailblazers are committed partners ready to lead the way, take action and fight for everyday victories. Our Visionary partners help us plan for a future that includes a cure for arthritis.

Our Pioneers are always ready to explore and find new weapons in the fight against arthritis. Our Pacesetters ensure that we can chart the course for a cure for those who live with arthritis. Our Signature partners make their mark by helping us identify new and meaningful resources for people with arthritis. Our Supporting partners are active champions who provide encouragement and assistance to the arthritis community.

Osteoarthritis This serious, painful condition is the most common form of arthritis and can affect any joint. Factors that may contribute to the development of OA include Age. The risk of developing OA increases with age and symptoms generally, but not always, appear in people over Joint injury. A bone fracture or cartilage or ligament tear can lead to OA, sometimes more quickly than in cases where there is not an obvious injury.

Using the same joints over and over in a job or sport can result in OA. Excess weight adds stress and pressure on a joint, plus fats cells promote inflammation. Musculoskeletal abnormalities. Malalignment of bone or joint structures can contribute to faster development of OA. Weak muscles. People with family members who have OA are more likely to develop it. Women are more likely to develop OA than men. Environmental Factors. Symptoms tend to build over time rather than show up suddenly.

They include Pain or aching in a joint during activity, after long activity or at the end of the day. Joint stiffness usually occurs first thing in the morning or after resting. Limited range of motion that may go away after movement.

Clicking or popping sound when a joint bends. Swelling around a joint. Muscle weakness around the joint. Joint instability or buckling as when a knee gives out. OA may affect different parts of the body in different ways. Pain in the groin area or buttocks and sometimes on the inside of the knee or thigh.

Bony growths spurs at the edge of joints can cause fingers to become swollen, tender and red, sometimes with pain at the base of the thumb. Pain and tenderness in the big toe, with possible swelling in the ankles or toes. Obesity, Diabetes and Heart Disease Painful joints, especially in the feet, ankles, knees, hip or back, make it harder to exercise. Falls Research indicates people with OA experience more falls and risk of fracture than those without OA.

These tests help to make the diagnosis: Joint aspiration. After numbing the area, a needle is inserted into the joint to pull out fluid. This test will look for infection or crystals in the fluid to help rule out other medical conditions or other forms of arthritis. X-rays can show joint or bone damage or changes related to osteoarthritis. Magnetic resonance imaging MRI gives a better view of cartilage and other parts of the joint.

Medications Pain and anti-inflammatory medicines for osteoarthritis are available as pills, syrups, patches, gels, creams or injectables. They include: Analgesics. These are pain relievers and include acetaminophen and opioids.

Acetaminophen is available over the counter OTC ; opioids must be prescribed by a doctor. These are the most commonly used drugs to ease inflammation and pain. They include aspirin , ibuprofen , naproxen and celecoxib , available either OTC or by prescription. The OTC versions help with pain but not inflammation. These OTC products contain ingredients like capsaicin, menthol and lidocaine that irritate nerve endings, so the painful area feels cold, warm or itchy to take focus away from the actual pain.

These prescription anti-inflammatory medicines work in a similar way to a hormone called cortisol. Platelet-rich plasma PRP.