Osteoarthritis is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. One of the hallmark symptoms of osteoarthritis is pain, which can range from mild discomfort to severe agony. The pain in osteoarthritis is often described as a deep ache or stiffness in the affected joint.
Due to gastrointestinal toxicity, and renal and cardiovascular side effects, oral NSAIDs should be used very cautiously with close monitoring long term. Topical NSAIDs are less efficacious than their oral counterparts but offer fewer gastrointestinal and other systemic side effects; however, they often cause local skin irritation. Pain and other symptoms of osteoarthritis may lead you to feel tired, have problems sleeping, and feel depressed. The whole hip joint is the top (head) of the thighbone (femur) and the surface of the socket into which the head of the thighbone fits.
Changes to the joint lining that may lead to problems later could be happening at this stage. Use your largest, strongest joints for lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying. Having high glucose levels can make cartilage stiffer and more likely to break down. Having diabetes causes inflammation, which also weakens cartilage.
Causes of Pain
The research evidence is limited to animal studies that suggest it might help to slow the breakdown of cartilage. Below are a few of the supplements often used by people with osteoarthritis. Paracetamol is usually recommended as the safest type of pain relief tablet to try first. Paracetamol is readily available over the counter at pharmacies and supermarkets – and there’s no advantage in paying for more expensive brands. There isn’t a specific diet that’s been proved to help with osteoarthritis. If you think a certain food might be making your symptoms worse then it’s best to test this by not eating the food for a few weeks and then reintroducing it.
Staying at your recommended weight helps prevent osteoarthritis of the knees, hips, and spine, reduces the stress on these weight-bearing joints, and reduces pain in joints already affected. Once you have osteoarthritis, losing weight also can relieve the stress and pain in your knees. Your doctor may use X-rays to help confirm the diagnosis and make sure you don’t have another type of arthritis. An MRI may be necessary to get a better look at the joint and surrounding tissues if the X-ray results do not clearly point to arthritis or another condition.
The pain in osteoarthritis is primarily caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones and allows for smooth movement. When this cartilage wears down, the bones can rub against each other, causing pain and inflammation. In addition, osteoarthritis can lead to the formation of bone spurs, which can also contribute to pain.
Therefore, joint replacement should be considered when pain is unmanageable and function becomes limited. Because an artificial joint does not last forever, the procedure is often delayed in very young people so the need for repeated replacements can be minimized. If other treatments are ineffective, surgical procedures can be done to help relieve symptoms of back or neck osteoarthritis, particularly nerve compression. The benefit of limited, arthroscopic surgical procedures for osteoarthritis of the knee, such as repair of the meniscus or reconstruction of knee ligaments, is uncertain. The knees are the joints most often affected by osteoarthritis (OA). Knee arthritis occurs when the cartilage in the knee breaks down, which can happen due to aging, being overweight, or injury, among other things.
A range of mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli – both noxious and non-noxious – are sensed in peripheral tissues via sensory neurons. This generates action potentials that carry these signals to the dorsal horn via the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), where the cell bodies of sensory neurons are located. These high-threshold pain-sensing neurons are called nociceptors (from the Latin nocere – to harm). For example, noxious heat is detected by the capsaicin receptor, transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1)29, generating action potentials that invade the DRG. Voltage-gated sodium channels are essential for the generation of action potentials. From the DRG, the painful signals are then transmitted to the dorsal horn in the spinal cord, where the first synapse occurs28.
Hip and knee replacements are the most common surgical procedures for OA and can relieve pain and help restore function. Get tips on exercise and other common concerns when coping with arthritis symptoms and arthritis pain. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints gradually deteriorates. Cartilage is a firm, slippery tissue that enables nearly frictionless joint motion.
Managing Pain
There are several ways to manage the pain associated with osteoarthritis. One of the most effective treatments is exercise, which helps to strengthen the muscles around the affected joint and improve flexibility. Other options include physical therapy, hot and cold therapy, and over-the-counter pain medications. In more severe cases, doctors may recommend corticosteroid injections or surgery to alleviate pain and improve joint function.
Overall, understanding the causes of pain in osteoarthritis and working with healthcare professionals to develop a comprehensive treatment plan is essential for managing this chronic condition and improving quality of life.
