Osteoarthritis: Diagnosis, Treatment and Steps to Take

Osteoarthritis: Diagnosis & Treatment

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It is usually identified by the gradual degeneration of joint cartilage and underlying bones. Managing osteoarthritis efficiently depends on precise identification and the ability to differentiate it from other joint diseases.

This guide covers the different techniques doctors use in diagnosing osteoarthritis.

Keep reading for detailed insight!

Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis

To detect osteoarthritis, healthcare providers usually conduct the following procedures:

1. Physical Examination

One of the first factors in detecting osteoarthritis is a proper physical examination:

• Starting with a thorough medical history, including asking questions on the duration and type of joint pain, stiffness, and any practical restrictions. Doctors also inquire about factors that worsen or relieve symptoms, as well as any family history of arthritis or earlier joint trauma.
• After that, a proper physical evaluation is conducted. Healthcare providers evaluate a range of movements, the presence of crepitus (a crackling sound during joint movement), joint tenderness, and swelling. They also examine for joint deformities and bony hypertrophy.
   

Physical examination helps to distinguish typical osteoarthritis from other diseases like gout or rheumatoid arthritis.

2. Imaging Studies

Imaging is essential in validating an osteoarthritis diagnosis and evaluating its nature:

• X-rays are the most frequent imaging method for osteoarthritis. It is helpful for those who experience joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis (greater bone density under the cartilage), osteophyte formation (bone spurs), and subchondral cysts. These distinctive signs of osteoarthritis can be seen in X-rays.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides a visual assessment of soft tissues and bone, including tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. MRI is especially effective for early osteoarthritis diagnosis since X-ray changes are not yet apparent.

3. Laboratory Tests

No specific blood test detects osteoarthritis, but it is crucial in the identification of possible other sources of joint discomfort:

• Tests like erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) are highly beneficial in the identification of inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis.
• Joint fluid analysis is a process in which a needle is used to draw fluid from an affected joint. It is then tested to determine whether the pain is caused by inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.

Functional Assessment Tools for Osteoarthritis

Functional Assessment Tools are instruments that create treatment plans and quantify and evaluate how much osteoarthritis affects a person's day-to-day activities. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) is a standardized survey that measures physical ability, stiffness, and discomfort in cases of knee and hip osteoarthritis.

It assists in the scientific checking of disease evolution and therapy response.

Emerging Diagnostic Technologies for Osteoarthritis

Technological advancements are enhancing osteoarthritis detection and diagnosis. Developing artificial intelligence algorithms to study radiographic images will ultimately help in improving the consistency and accuracy of knee osteoarthritis diagnosis. These instruments help to grade its seriousness and track its progress.

Treatment of Osteoarthritis

The goals of your treatment for osteoarthritis include:

• Reducing pain and other symptoms.
• Enhancing joint function.
• Stopping the disease from progressing.
• Maintaining a health-associated quality of life to help prevent disability.
   

Treating osteoarthritis generally starts with:

Exercising, which can reduce your joint pain and stiffness and increase flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance.

Always remember to start any exercise slowly and take the time to adjust to the new activity level. You must consult with your physical therapist about a safe, well-rounded exercise program, which may include:

• Range-of-motion and stretching activities to keep your joints limber.
• Strengthening exercises performed with weights or exercise bands to strengthen muscles that support joints affected by arthritis.
• Exercises in the water to help lower the stress on the joints while exercising.
• Balance and agility exercises to help you maintain daily living skills.
• Low-impact activities include walking, cycling, swimming, tai chi, water aerobics, or a low-impact aerobics class  can give you a moderate level of activity without putting stress on the joints.
   

Some people may need medications to help manage osteoarthritis symptoms, including:

• Oral anti-inflammatory medications to treat pain and inflammation
• Oral pain relievers
• Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine, may be considered for chronic pain in osteoarthritis, especially when other treatments are ineffective or if there is coexisting depression. Hyaluronic acids substitutes, which are injected into the knee to replace a normal component of the joint involved in lubrication and nutrition are in some cases advised for knee osteoarthritis, though clinical guidelines vary in their recommendations due to mixed evidence on effectiveness.

Osteoarthritis can be detected using several factors. Effective therapy and better recovery results are primarily dependent on early and proper diagnosis. In this regard, having a comprehensive health insurance plan ensures that you can opt for the required diagnostic tests without dipping into your savings.

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