KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Do you or someone you care about suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee?Osteoarthritis
Arthritis typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by degenerative (gradual deterioration of joint) and sometimes abnormal growth in the bone and cartilage of one or more joints and a progressive wearing down of opposing joint surfaces with consequent distortion of joint position and is marked symptomatically especially by pain, swelling, and stiffness; abbreviation (OA) You are not alone. More than 20 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), which is the number one cause of disability in the United States.

There is hope to regain your active lifestyle and continue many of your favorite activities, despite osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease. That means it will never get better and is likely to get worse over time. The knee pain and immobility are caused by wear-and-tear between the joints.

OA strikes three times as many women as men and most often occurs in people over 50. However, younger people who have been injured in sports or accidents can start having symptoms in their 20s and 30s.

With OA, everyday activities may be painful or even impossible. Daily activities such as walking, driving, lifting, standing, bending, climbing stairs and exercising may be causing extreme pain. It may even hurt to lay down, rest or sleep. Symptoms include aching, pain, stiffness, swelling and inflammation of affected joints. Symptoms are often more prominent after you have been active but pain and stiffness can be experienced after resting (most common in the morning).

In addition to physical symptoms, osteoarthritis takes an emotional toll. A survey by The National Council on the Aging sheds light on the way OA hampers the lives of people with the disease:

• OA sufferers reported gaining an average of 42 pounds since their diagnosis. This is partly due to patients’ inability to exercise as much as they would like to – a feeling expressed by 75 percent of OA sufferers.
• Loss of sleep, which can take a serious toll on relationships, productivity and public safety, is another side effect of OA. Thirty-seven percent of sufferers report losing two or more hours or sleep per night due to pain.

OA is a progressive disease. While early treatment can slow things down, affected joints continue to get worse. You may experience flare-ups as well as periods when you feel no symptoms at all.