Osteoarthritis (OA) Causes and DiagnosisWhat are the Causes of Osteoarthritis?Myth of Aging and Osteoarthritis - It is true that as people get older, you are more likely to get OA but it is not a natural part of aging. However, as people get older, the cartilage lining the joints do become thinner and joint space might get narrower.Myth of Wear and Tear causing Osteoarthritis - OA was once thought to be due exclusively to "wear and tear" of the joints. However, research have shown that there are other factors also involved such as excessive use of the joints, infection, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and metabolism imbalance. Nevertheless, "wear and tear" is one of the major causes of OA. How is Osteoarthritis Identified?Symptoms - Usually, the symptoms you notice starts to gradually appear. Pain is the first and it appears when you use the affected joint. Other symptoms that may appear include morning stiffness and restricted range of motion. As the condition progressive, it will also lead to joint deformity.The joints that are commonly affected are:
The joints that carry the body's weight, known as the weight-bearing joints, (for example, the knee) are likely to show more pain and stiffness. You will get relief from pain after 30 minutes to 1 hour, especially when you move the joint. Initially, there is none or very little inflammatory effects taking place; it will not appear swollen. As the condition gets worst, the joint structure starts to change, swell and you experience more and more stiffness and less flexible. Eventually, the bone deforms and you can no longer open the joint fully. As well, the joint will appear bent and deformed. At this stage, the damage is permanent. Only surgery (for example, joint replacement) will be able to give you back use of the joint. If you suffer from spinal osteoarthritis, you will experience back pain or neck pain. As this condition gets worst, the bones may put pressure on nerves and cause numbness and pain to travel down the legs or arms. Physical Examination - Your family doctor can perform a physical exam, take your history and get an X-ray of the affected joint. With a detailed exam, your doctor will rule out other health conditions. It will ensure that you get the proper treatment. However, the x-ray image may not give you the full picture because it only shows the bone and not the cartilage (which is the main problem). MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - While MRI will show the cartilage (which an X-ray will not), this is seldom done. The cost is far too high to justify its use for such a condition except in the worst cases. This procedure is costly and not often done except under certain circumstances. Arthroscopic Examination - A surgeon can make a small incision into the knee joint, insert a tube attached to a camera at the end and physically see inside the joint to evaluate the damage. Blood Test - There are no blood test for OA. However, most physicians will do a blood test to make sure that the OA symptoms are not due to some other ailments. 
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