What is Osteoarthritis?

It is the most common rheumatic disease. It causes pain and stiffness as a result of the destruction of the cartilage tissue covering the joint surface. In normal joints, there is a tissue called cartilage at the end of each bone that forms the joint, which grips the bone and covers its surface. Cartilage tissue secretes a lubricating fluid into the joint. Cartilage and this fluid prevent bones from rubbing against each other. In osteoarthritis, cartilage damage occurs slowly over time.

Who is most affected?

    People over middle age
  • Overweight people
  • People with habits or jobs that put strain on the joints or cause them to be used excessively (knee osteoarthritis is more common in people who work in a squatting position)
  • It is more common in women
  • The likelihood of developing osteoarthritis increases in people with family members who have it.
  • More common in those who have experienced joint trauma.
  • More common in those with joint disorders such as congenital hip dislocation
What are the symptoms?
Pain and stiffness in the affected joint are the most common complaints. The pain subsides with rest. However, after resting, the patient feels stiffness in the joint upon first movement. For example, a person with calcification in their fingers may report stiffness lasting up to 10 minutes upon waking in the morning. This stiffness then gradually subsides, but pain and stiffness increase with mechanical fatigue.

In advanced stages of the disease, the patient may become unable to move the joint at all.

How is it diagnosed?
The physician listens to the patient's complaints and makes the diagnosis, taking into account the risk factors mentioned. MRI and tomography are unnecessary unless there is an additional health problem, such as nerve compression adjacent to the calcification. Examination and X-rays are usually sufficient.

Treatment methods:

Medication: Anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic drugs are very useful at the onset of pain, but they must be used under the guidance and supervision of a physician. In recent years, there have been medications containing cartilage precursors as a form of support, and these should also be used under a doctor's supervision. Medications marketed as herbal supplements, whose contents are unknown and prices are high, should never be used. Pills approved by the Ministry of Health should be preferred.

Rest: One of the most common mistakes made by patients with calcification is to force the painful joint open. However, strenuous exercise during the acute phase of the disease increases joint damage. After resting as recommended by your doctor, a physical therapist will give you appropriate exercises for the muscles around the joint.

Physical Therapy: This treatment, which involves electrical currents, sound waves, and heating or cooling packs, relieves pain and treats stiffness and limited movement in the joint when combined with appropriate exercises.

Alternative Treatments: In recent years, injecting cartilage fluid into the joint has been shown to provide 1-2 years of relief. We also achieve very successful results with a method called PRP, which involves separating the patient's own blood using a special technique and injecting it into the joint.

Surgical Treatment: In advanced stages of osteoarthritis and when other methods are ineffective, the affected joint components are removed surgically and replaced with a prosthesis.

Recommendations for those with osteoarthritis:
  • You should lose excess weight.
  • Squatting, climbing stairs, and sitting cross-legged are not recommended for knee and hip osteoarthritis as they put excessive strain on the joints.
  • Shoes must have a wide toe box, and the heel should be 1.5 inches higher than the front. The material used for the shoes should be soft leather.
  • You should strengthen the muscles around your joints with exercise. You must do the exercises as recommended and instructed by your doctor.
  • There is no known food that is good for osteoarthritis. However, general healthy eating principles are beneficial as they strengthen bones and muscles.


    20.09.2022
    Uzm. Dr. Mehmet Sefa YALÇIN