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Saturday, November 14, 2009
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Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis
Alternative Names

Hypertrophic osteoarthritis; Osteoarthrosis; Degenerative joint disease; DJD; OA; Arthritis - osteoarthritis


Symptoms

The symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

  • Deep aching joint pain that gets worse after exercise or putting weight on it, and is relieved by rest
  • Pain that is worse when you start activities after a period of no activity
  • Over time, pain is present even when you are at rest
  • Grating of the joint with motion
  • Increase in pain during humid or moist weather
  • Joint swelling
  • Limited movement
  • Muscle weakness around arthritic joints

Some people might not have symptoms.


Signs and tests

A physical exam can show:

  • Joint movement may cause a cracking (grating) sound
  • Joint swelling (bones around the joints may feel larger than normal)
  • Limited range of motion
  • Tenderness when the joint is pressed
  • Normal movement is often painful

No blood tests are helpful in diagnosing osteoarthritis.

An x-ray of affected joints will show a loss of the joint space. In advanced cases, there will be a wearing down of the ends of the bone and bone spurs.



Review Date: 08/26/2009
Reviewed By: Dennis Ogiela, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).
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