Joint Pain and Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that causes
the top layer of cartilage (the slippery
tissue that covers the ends of bones in a
joint) to break down and wear away. The
disease is also referred to as degenerative
joint disease, wear and tear arthritis, or
degenerative arthritis. It is a leading cause
of disability and affects more than 27 million
men and women in the United States.1
Normally functioning joints have healthy
cartilage that allows bones to glide over
each other and absorb the shock of
movement. But with osteoarthritis, bones
begin to rub together. This rubbing causes
pain, swelling, damage to the bone, and loss
of motion of the joint.
Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the
knees, hips, spine, or shoulders. Unlike
some other forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis
affects only joints. Rheumatoid arthritis,
the second most common form of
arthritis, affects other parts of the body
besides the joints.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis usually happens gradually
over time. Some risk factors that might lead
to it include:
• Being overweight
• Getting older
• Joint injury
• Joints that are not properly formed
• A genetic defect in joint cartilage
• Stresses on the joints from certain jobs
and playing sports
How Is Osteoarthritis Diagnosed?
Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint.
Warning signs of osteoarthritis are:
• Stiffness in a joint after getting out of
bed or sitting for a long time
• Swelling or tenderness in one or
more joints
• A crunching feeling or the sound of
bone rubbing on bone
No single test can diagnose osteoarthritis.
Most doctors use several methods
to diagnose the disease and rule out
other problems:
• Medical history
• Physical exam
• X-ray
• Other tests such as blood tests or
exams of the fluid in the joints
How Is Osteoarthritis Treated?
“Osteoarthritis can compromise mobility
to the point that a patient’s quality of
life suffers,” says Mitch Frix, MD. “There
are multiple treatment options, including
lifestyle changes, medications, physical
therapy, and/or surgery to alleviate the
pain and improve the quality of life of
our patients.”
Osteoarthritis treatment plans can involve:
• Exercise
• Physical therapy
• Weight control
• Rest and joint care
• Non-drug pain relief techniques to
control pain (hot/cold compresses)
• Medicines
• Corticosteroid injections
• Complementary and alternative
therapies
• Joint replacement surgery
If you think you are suffering from the
symptoms of osteoarthritis, it’s important
to discuss your symptoms with your
doctor early. This will allow you and your
doctor to develop a plan to minimize joint
damage and reduce your chances of
needing surgery.
Joint Replacement Surgery and
Pre-Habilitation
If joint replacement surgery is needed, it
is important that your health be optimized,
your weight controlled, and pre-habilitation
(physical rehabilitation that is performed
before surgery) initiated for muscle
strengthening and balance.
“A great way to help speed the recovery
process after joint replacement surgery
is to enroll in pre-habilitation before your
surgery,” says Teresa Ingle, RN, Hamilton
Medical Center Joint Moves Nurse
Navigator. “Many patients begin prehabilitation,
also referred to as pre-hab, as
soon as the decision is made to have joint
replacement surgery.”
Patsy Ray, a recent knee replacement patient,
says, “I attended a pre-habilitation session at
Bradley Whiteside Rehabilitation Center and
the physical therapist explained to me what
the post-surgery physical therapy would be
like and showed me exercises to do at home
to prepare. It was extremely beneficial.”
www.arthritis.org
Hamilton Medical Center
Joint Moves Program
706.272.6511
HamiltonHealth.com/
JointReplacement
B
Bradley Whiteside
R
Rehabilitation
706.272.6199
1225 Broadrick Drive
Dalton, Georgia
HamiltonHealth.com/
Rehab-Outpatient
