Osteoarthritis
Do you have osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a very common disease that can affect a wide range of joints in your body. From your spine, to your hips and knees; even your fingers and toes!
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling of our joints. It can become very limiting, to the point that people have to stop activities they enjoy due to pain.
In OA, inflammation inside a joint will soften and break down the cartilage that covers the bone. Eventually, this can expose the bone. There can also be small cysts and bone spurs that grow within a joint during OA.
How do I know if I have osteoarthritis?
A discussion with a doctor or physiotherapist
A physical assessment with a doctor or physiotherapist
A diagnosis is confirmed with an x-ray
What do I do if I have osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is best managed with a combined approach:
strengthening exercise
pain management (medication guided by your GP)
Some severe cases of osteoarthritis can benefit from surgery. The above approach should always be trialled for at least 3 months before speaking to a surgeon.
