Types of Osteoarthritis
Author: John Published Under: Health
Arthritis is a general term that is used to refer to more than 100 different kinds of joint disorders, which usually result in joint pain, joint inflammation, and a reduction in overall mobility. Despite there being so many different kinds of arthritis, most of them are fairly uncommon. In fact, two types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis. Of these, osteoarthritis is much more common.
Osteoarthritis is often called wear-and-tear arthritis and is caused when cartilage around the joints begins to break away. As the cartilage begins to wear away, the bones of the affected joint will rub together. This causes pain and swelling, as well as often resulting in pieces of bone and cartilage to break away from the joint. Bone spurs can also form, which are called osteophytes.
Osteoarthritis is most commonly found in the joints in the hand, knee, and hip.
Knee Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the knee most often occurs in people between the age of fifty and seventy years old, being more common among females. Those who are overweight are also at an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee, as well as those who have had knee surgery or suffered an injury to their knee. In many cases, however, there is no cause that can be specifically pinpointed.
As the osteoarthritis develops, it is possible for the joint to become deformed and bent, although at first pain on the front and sides of the knee is most common. People who play soccer are more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis.
Hip Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the hip usually does not occur until much later in life, although it can begin to occur in those over forty. Those who are farmers are more likely to develop hip arthritis, with men and women being affected equally.
In some cases, only one hip will be affected, but it is also possible that both will be affected by this type of arthritis. Those who are born with hip problems or develop hip problems during childhood are more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee. It is also common for some people to exhibit genetic predisposition to developing hip arthritis, such as can be seen in the way some people hips are designed.
Most often, the pain of hip osteoarthritis is noted around the groin area, although it can also be felt towards the buttocks or knee. When the pain occurs on the buttocks or knee side of the hip, it is said to be referred pain.
Hand Osteoarthritis
Hand osteoarthritis is most common among females in their late forties or early fifties. It often coincides with menopause. The most common digits to be affected are the top two joints in the finger or the bottom joint in the thumb, often resulting in deformities of the fingers.
Despite the fact that the fingers will often become deformed or bent, they can still be used well, with few long term problems.
In nodal osteoarthritis, which affects the joints in the finger, swelling and tenderness is very common. In cases where the osteoarthritis affects the top joints of the finger, they are named after the person who discovered them during the eighteenth century, referred to as Heberden's Nodes.
When the joints located in the middle of the finger are affected by osteoarthritis, they are referred to as Bouchard's Nodes, again named after the person who discovered them.
In many cases, when the bony swelling characteristic of Heberden's Nodes and Bouchard's Nodes develop, there is little pain.