More than 32.5 million adults in the United States have osteoarthritis (OA). If you’re one of them, knowing the following facts about the condition can help you better understand osteoarthritis and make good decisions about how best to care for yourself.

1. Your Risk Goes Up With Age

Although you can get osteoarthritis at any time in life, people aged 50 and older are especially at risk. Other risk factors for OA include:

• Gender: Women develop osteoarthritis more frequently than men.
• Medical history: If you’ve previously injured a joint or had surgery on it, you’re more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
• Genetics: People who have close relatives with osteoarthritis are more likely to develop the disease themselves.
• Joint structure: Individuals whose joints didn’t form properly during childhood are at an increased risk for osteoarthritis.
• Lifestyle and work history: Performing repetitive motions for many years can raise the risk of osteoarthritis.

2. Osteoarthritis Can Cause More Than Just Pain

Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage that insulates and protects the joints breaks down. Pain is the most well-known symptom of the condition, but it can cause other problems, such as:

• Stiffness that persists all day or is worse in the morning or after physical activity
• Tenderness to the touch
• Reduced range of motion and flexibility
• Feeling a grating or popping sensation when you move your joints
• Formation of hard lumps called bone spurs around joints
• Swelling of the tissue around the joint

If you have any of the above symptoms and have yet to receive an OA diagnosis, talk to your health care provider. You may have osteoarthritis even if you don’t have pain.

3. Not All Joint Pain Is Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis and a frequent cause of joint pain. However, other conditions can also lead to discomfort in the joints.

• Rheumatoid arthritis: A chronic condition where the immune system attacks healthy joints
• Gout: A condition when crystals form in the joints, leading to swelling and pain
• Bursitis: Swelling around the joints often caused by overuse
• Infections: Viruses and other illnesses can cause widespread inflammation, leading to joint pain
• Injuries: A sprain or strain can lead to joint pain
• Tendinitis: Inflammation of the connective tissues that join muscles to bones, often caused by overuse

Because other conditions could be the cause of joint pain, it’s important that you talk to your health care provider about your symptoms rather than self-diagnosing your discomfort as a sign of osteoarthritis.

4. Exercise Can Improve Mobility

When your joints are sore, your natural impulse may be to stay off your feet and rest, but this could do more harm than good. Exercise is actually beneficial for people with OA. In fact, getting at least 150 minutes of exercise each week reduces joint pain and stiffness by as much as 40%, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The key is to choose low-impact activities like cycling, swimming, walking or water aerobics. These activities get you moving without placing too much strain on the joints.

5. Weight Loss May Reduce Pain

Excess body weight places additional strain on the joints and can worsen osteoarthritis pain. One study found that each pound of weight loss reduces joint pressure by 4 pounds, so even modest weight loss can positively impact your symptoms. If you have weight to lose, focus on limiting portion size, eating less sugar and processed foods and exercising regularly to start shedding pounds.

6. Joint Health Supplements May Help But They’re Not a Cure

Many people take joint health supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin as a part of their treatment plans for osteoarthritis. As with other dietary supplements, joint supplements don’t go through the same clinical testing process that drugs do, so there’s no guarantee any product will work.

Studies related to the use of supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin have produced conflicting results. Some say these ingredients are beneficial for arthritis, while others indicate they have little or no effect. They may also interact with some medications and potentially worsen various medical conditions. As a result, it’s wise to consult your medical provider before taking them and manage your expectations when it comes to supplements.

7. Topical Treatments Can Provide Relief

Topical treatments available over the counter can help reduce discomfort associated with osteoarthritis for some people. These include creams, ointments, lotions and patches that contain one of the following ingredients.

• Capsaicin: An extract from chili peppers that distracts your brain from sensing pain messages
• Counter-irritants: Ingredients like camphor and menthol that produce hot and cold sensations to temporarily reduce arthritis pain
• Anesthetics: Lidocaine and other medications that dull the nerves to ease discomfort
• Salicylates: Topical versions of aspirin that reduce pain and inflammation

If you want to give over-the-counter topical treatments a try, ask your medical provider which one is ideal for you, and follow the directions on the packaging unless they give you other advice.

8. Your Health Care Provider Can Help

When over-the-counter interventions don’t fully alleviate the discomfort associated with osteoarthritis, medical treatments can help. Your health care provider can outline other options like prescription medications to address joint pain and stiffness. In addition, your medical provider can give you additional tips and customized advice for managing arthritis pain.

Schedule an appointment with your health care provider to discuss osteoarthritis. Residents of Park Regency Thornton senior living community in Thornton, CO, can schedule free transportation to and from the office or clinic for added convenience.

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