Osteoarthritis
The topic of my disease diary is Osteoarthritis. In the following report I will talk about the characteristic of Osteoarthritis, the causes and symptoms, what happens chemically, the treatment of the disorder and how the relationship to other body systems is.
Osteoarthritis is known as the most common form of arthritis, which affects millions of people worldwide. Osteoarthritis occurs mostly in older people, because the protective cartilage in the joints, on the ends of our bones, wears down over time. The disorder could damage any joint in our body, but most commonly it occurs in the joints of the hands, knees, hips and spine. Step by step Osteoarthritis worsens and there is also no cure for the disorder. But there are other
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ways you can prevent your body, staying active and maintaining a healthy weight and other treatments may slow down the development of the disorder or can help improve the pain and joint function. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the joints, on the ends of our bones, wears down over time.
Cartilage is a hard, slippery tissue that allows our frictionless joint motion. Through Osteoarthritis the surface of the cartilage gets rough or is so worn down, that no cartilage exists anymore at all. The pain of Osteoarthritis occurs, when bone rubs against bone. Osteoarthritis can be separated into two types: Primary and Secondary. The cause for Primary Osteoarthritis is not known. In the majority of the Osteoarthritis cases is this so, that the doctor cannot determine the cause for the disorder. But there are many different causes for the Secondary Osteoarthritis like a disease or other condition. Those diseases or conditions can include an infection, a joint abnormality that occurred at birth, an injury, a metabolic disorder, for example that the patient has too much iron in the body, known as hemochromatosis, or when the patient has too much copper in the liver, also known as Wilson disease. It also could be a disorder that has damaged the joint cartilage; those disorders could include rheumatoid arthritis or …show more content…
gout. Osteoarthritis is most commonly caused by tissue damage. A build-up of chemicals occurs at the affected joint, because they are trying to repair the damaged joint. Through the build-up the production of the components of cartilage increases. These components include collagen, a protein in connective tissue, and proteoglycans, a substance that provides the elasticity. Through the storage of water, the cartilage may swell and become soft. Finally there are cracks developed on the surface of the cartilage, which weaken the bone. Another effect of the try to repair the affected joint by chemicals, could lead to growth of new cartilage, bone and other tissue. Bone could overgrow on the ends and can lead to bumps, known as osteophytes, and you can feel and see it. The surface of the cartilage is no longer smooth and soft, it becomes rough and uneven. This change in the cartilage affects the smooth motion and impact absorption of the joint. Concluding you can say that all the components of the joint go wrong, what results in a changing function of the joint. Other signs and symptoms of Osteoarthritis are soreness, stiffness, loss of flexibility, a grating sensation and bone spurs. To diagnose Osteoarthritis, the doctor will perform a physical exam. The physical exam consists of looking at the affected joint, proving for tenderness, swelling or redness. The doctor may also order an X-ray/MRI or a lab test. In X-ray images you cannot see soft tissue, but through this kind of picture the doctor could see whether the space between the bones has lessened. Through the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) you can see the bones and soft tissue. This kind of imaging is not necessary to diagnose Osteoarthritis, but it is useful for difficult cases. The lab tests consist of blood testing and analyzing joint fluid. Through the blood testing, the doctor can eliminate other disorders causing the joint pain. Through the analysis of joint fluid the doctor can decide if there is inflammation and whether the cause of the patient’s pain could also be from gout or an infection. Generally there is no cure for Osteoarthritis, but the treatment of Osteoarthritis can be regulated.
The goals of the treatment are to reduce the pain, maintain the joint flexibility and improve the joint and the overall function. There are different ways to treat Osteoarthritis. This treatment could consist of surgery, drugs, physical and work-related therapy and supplemental therapy. Acetaminophen can be used as medication; it doesn’t reduce inflammation, but it relieves pain. Other medications could be Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which reduce the inflammation and reduce pain. Over-the-counter NSAIDs consist of ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin IB and others. The therapy of Osteoarthritis consists of physical therapy; the therapist will figure out an exercise plan with the patient to reduce the pain and increase the range of motion and support the muscles around the affected joint. Through work-related therapy you can discover ways to putting extra stress on the already affected and painful joint. For example when a patient has knee Osteoarthritis and it is painful for him to stand over a longer period of time, he could put a bench or chair in his shower to sit down. Braces or shoe inserts may reduce the pain while walking or standing. The inserts support the joint and take pressure off the joint. The last form of therapy is the chronic pain class of the arthritis Foundation. In these classes the patient will be taught how to manage the pain of the osteoarthritis
affected joint and they could exchange tips and tricks to reduce joint paint with other people, who are affected by Osteoarthritis. If those therapies don’t help, the patient may consider other treatment like Cortisone shots. These shots relieve the pain, but also can lead to joint damage. The doctor will numb the area around the affected joint and then positions the needle into the space within the joint and injects the medication. Lubrication injections are injections of hyaluronic acid, what is alike to a liquid you can find in the joint fluid. These injections relieve the pain. Osteotomy is a surgical process, in which the doctor cuts above or below the knee across the bone and realigns the leg. Through this part the pain can be reduced, because the body weight will be shifted away from the worn down cartilage. The last way to treat Osteoarthritis is to have a joint replacement surgery. The surgeon will remove the surface of the damaged, affected joint and replaces it with plastic and metal parts. The risk of replacements is blood clots and infections and additional the replacement only lasts for 10 years. That’s why doctors try to avoid replacements and try to treat the patients with therapies. In this picture you can see on the left side the damaged knee through Osteoarthritis. On the right side you can see the knee with a knee replacement. Osteoarthritis affects the skeletal system, because through Osteoarthritis the cartilage between the bones decreases and finally the bones rub against each other, which can lead to damaging the bones and joints. Osteoarthritis affects the
I carried out this case study on Mrs. Casey (Pseudonym), any 86 year old woman who underwent an elective left total hip replacement (THR). After the OT student studied Mrs. Casey's past medical history in her medical chart, it was noted that she had previously undergone a right THR in 2011, which had been successful and free from complications. Ms. Casey had no other significant past medical history and had been an independent and active woman before the progression of her arthritis. Ms. Casey was required to have total hip replacements carried out on both hip joints as a result of severe Osteoarthritis (OA), which lead to stiffness, pain, and an eventual decrease in mobility, affecting her quality of life and involvement in meaningful occupations.
Shiel W Jr.and Stoppler M. (2011). Osteoarthritis . Available: http://www.medicinenet.com/osteoarthritis/article.htm . Last accessed December 2013.
Osgood-Schlatter Disease or syndrome (OSD) is an irritation of the patellar ligament at the tibial tuberosity (Dhar). Osgood-Schlatter Disease is claimed by some to not actually be a disease (Sims). But is rather a collection of symptoms that involves the tibial tubercle epiphysis (Sims). Osgood-Schlatter Disease affects as many as 1 in 5 adolescent athletes (Diseases and Conditions: Osgood-Schlatter Disease). Some other common names for this disease are Osteochondrosis, Tibial Aponphysitis, Tibial Tubercle Apophyseal Traction Injury, Morbus Osgood- Schlatter, and Rugby Knee (Dhar). “This can cause multiple sub-acute avulsion fractures along with inflammation of the tendon, leading to excess bone growth in the tuberosity and producing a visible lump which can be very painful when hit (Dhar). Activities such as kneeling may irritate the tendon further (Dhar).”
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory and an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissue (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017). This disease affects the entire body, which is called a systemic (means entire body) disease. Arthritis is derived from the word part arthr-, which means “joint,” and -itis, which means “inflammation,” so altogether it means “inflammation of the joints.” It creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (synovium) to thicken. About 1.5 million people in the U.S. are affected. It affects all races, but it affects three times as many women than men (What is Rheumatoid Arthritis, n.d.). Overtime, rheumatoid arthritis causes painful swelling that can potentially result in bone erosion or joint deformity, which leads up to physical disabilities. RA can affect more than just your joints, but can spread to body systems, skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood vessels, e.t.c (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017).
Orthotics. Using any kind of orthotics such as arch supports, shoe inserts like wedges and heel cups is recommended to reduce and relieve pain.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 27 million Americans (LeMone, Burke, Bauldoff, 2011). It is caused when the cartilage in the joints breaks down, causing the bones of the joint to rub against one another. This causes pain, stiffness, and loss of motion in the joint. Osteoarthritis is most prevalent in those 65 and older, but can affect those of any age. In addition, African Americans and Hispanics report a higher incidence of arthritis than Caucasians (LeMone, Burke, Bauldoff, 2011). Although the cause is unknown, it is believed that the increasing age of the population, prevalence of obesity and injuries add to the progression of the condition. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body; however, those of the hand, hip, and knee are often the most common. This condition may be asymptomatic, or may present symptoms including soreness, stiffness and pain. The symptoms are more common in the older population, those with limited activity levels, and those who are obese. Joint cartilage thins over time, causing an increased risk for symptoms in the elderly, and obesity puts extra pressure on the joints during activity. Osteoarthritis is commonly diagnosed with the use of a physical assessment along with results of radiology testing such as X-Ray and MRI.
Arthritis affects people of all age groups. More than 100 types of arthritis are known. Among these osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis having the highest incidence. One of the major causes of chronic debilitation in industrialized nations is Osteoarthritis which results from damage to the joints, which may be due to trauma, infection, or age-related wear. Rheumatoid arthritis is encountered less frequently than osteoarthritis and is estimated to affect around one per cent of the world’s population. Amongst patients of Rheumatoid arthritis, women are three times more likely to be affected by this condition than men. This condition is caused by an inflammatory process where the body starts attacking itself. Rheumatoid arthritis also affects several joints, with inflammation sometimes seen in and around the lungs, the heart, the eyes and the skin. The most commonly reported complaint by arthritis patients is pain. The pain might be from the joint itself and be a result of inflammation, damage from the disease, or through daily wear and tear. Muscle pain is also common and is caused by having to force movements against stiff and painful joints. Although range of movement in the affected joint may be limited and uncomfortable, physical exercise has been shown to benefit those with arthritis. Physical therapy has been shown to significantly improve function, decrease pain in the long term and delay the need for surgery in advanced cases. The majority of arthritis cases occur among theelderly, however the disease can occur in children as well. Over 70% of the population that get affected by arthritis in North America are over the age of 65 (4). The disease occurs more commonly in females than males in all races, age groups, and ethn...
Anterior knee pain plagues the athletic community, the most common being runner’s knee or patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). One point or another in an athlete’s career they have experienced this kind of pain. When comparing between male and female athletes and who has the higher chance of knee pain, female athletes have a higher prevalence than male athletes (Dolak KL). There are several different mechanisms of patellofemoral pain a few being: pes planus,an increased Q angle, weak, tight or an imbalance in the quadriceps or hip muscles. Recently in my clinic site as the spring sports such as, baseball, soccer and track and field the athlete’s perform a lot of squatting, running, and kneeling which load the patellofemoral joint. We are now starting to see several and treat several athletes with patellofemoral knee pain. Each of them experiencing the pain from a different mechanism. As an athletic trainer we want to treat not only the symptoms, but the mechanism of injury to prevent further injuries down the road. If patellofemoral pain syndrome is not properly treated it can develop into chronic diseases such as chondromalacia or arthritis, maybe eventually leading to a total knee plan. (Lee SE) Treatment while the athletes are young and symptoms aren’t severe is key to preventing further injury.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints and connective tissue. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the bodys tissue is mistakenly attacked by its own immune system. The immunes system is primarly organized to look for infections and destroy them, patients with rheumatoid arthritis have antibodies in their blood which target their own tissue which leads to inflammation. RA is basically a chronic syndrome that is characterized by inflammation of the peripheral joints, but it may also involve the lungs, the heart, the blood vessels and eyes.
Cartilage serves as protection against bone on bone contact to prevent wear in bones an example of this is the lateral and medial meniscal cartilage (articular cartilage). But the lateral and medial meniscal cartilage can be quite easily torn although a common injury in fully grown adults torn cartilage cannot be healed as cartilage receives little blood flow making it hard for it to heal compared to children with
Rheumatoid Arthritis is when the joints are chronically inflamed, which happens because it is an autoimmune disease which means that the immune system attacks the body tissues. Although Rheumatoid Arthritis mainly affects the joints, it can also affect other organs.
“Always remember to be an internist, my dear.” This was an invaluable piece of feedback I received on a rheumatology rotation in my first year of internal medicine residency. Truly, I have never learned so much about medicine as I did during this first rotation in rheumatology. I became fascinated by the subtle presentations and cases that posed a diagnostic challenge to multiple subspecialties. I have been inspired by rheumatology as a field where multisystem disease is encountered on a daily basis and rheumatologists must use both general medicine and subspecialty skillsets to diagnose and treat patients. The academic challenges in rheumatology initially attracted me to the field however my subsequent experiences with patients, mentors, and research have made me passionate about pursuing rheumatology as my specialty.
All subscales show good to excellent test-retest reliability, as demonstrated by the following: pain (ICC = 0.85-0.93), symptoms (ICC = 0.83-0.95), activities of daily living (ICC = 0.75-0.91), sport and recreation (ICC = 0.62-0.89), and quality of life (ICC = 0.83-0.95).32 The KOOS is especially appropriate for this study because it was found to be “responsive to change following non-surgical and surgical interventions.”31 Further, the KOOS test includes the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) within it, a test validated for, and commonly used in trials with, elderly subjects with OA.31 The KOOS scale was chosen over the WOMAC scale for this study because, “KOOS subscales ‘Sport and Recreation function’ and ‘Quality of Life’ were more sensitive and discriminative than the WOMAC subscales ‘Pain’, ‘Stiffness’, and ‘Function’” when studied in older individuals with OA who had previously received
The big picture. Where the two schools of medicine differ is in philosophy. Doctors of osteopathy "treat people, not just symptoms," says Karen Nichols, dean of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. "The course list looks exactly the same, but the M.D.'s focus is on discrete organs. The osteopathic focus is that all of those pieces are interrelated. You can't affect one with out affecting another." That means paying more than simple lip service to the idea of the "whole" patient: It means that diagnosis and treatment rely on an examination of a person's environment and family and general situation as well as his or her body. Not surprisingly, about 65 percent of the nation's 52,000 licensed osteopaths (by comparison, the country boasts at least 900,000 M.D.'s) are primary-care physicians. The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine has a description of osteopathic training, as well as short profiles of 20 schools, at www.aacom.org. The D.O. programs and their contact information are listed in the directory section of this book.
Almost everyone develops osteoarthrits as they age, some get it while in their fifties and in others it does not appear until their eighties. Osteoarthritis is the most common form that affects older people; this form of the disease wears down the cartilage mostly through overuse and injury but there are other causes. This specific form of the disease causes the cartilage to break down and the bones to rub against each other. Deformity and swelling occurs because knobs of hardened bits of cartilage develop in the joint. It forms especially if a joint has been injured many times.