— Terry from Peru
Injuries/Conditions
Arthritis is joint (arthr-) inflammation (-itis). Every joint is made up of bone ends that are capped with a soft material called cartilage. Healthy cartilage cushions the joint and is lubricated by joint fluid that allows for smooth motion.
Cartilage also has no nerves so it can help absorb impact on the joints without pain.
Arthritis is a disease of this cartilage such that the protective cushion erodes away. This then exposes the sensitive bone underneath. In advanced arthritis, it is the bone-on-bone contact that causes much of the pain in this disease.
Overall, one in four people will suffer from arthritis in their lifetime, and the prevalence is higher as we age. Women are more likely to develop more severe arthritis and at a younger age than men, and obesity doubles the risk of knee arthritis.
There are two main types of arthritis. The most common type is called osteoarthritis. The other type is called inflammatory arthritis – the most common of which is rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis itself has many causes, which include prior injury or trauma to the joint, childhood joint malformations or diseases, osteonecrosis (dead bone), or even genetics.
Inflammatory arthritis is typically caused by an immune system abnormality where it attacks its own bodily tissues, including the joints.
Common symptoms of arthritis of the hip or knee include
- Morning stiffness greater than 30 minutes
- Pain in the affected joint
- Radiating pain down the leg
- Trouble with stairs, getting in and out of cars, putting on shoes and socks
- Locking, catching, or giving way
- Swelling of the joint
- Loss of motion of the joint
- Night pain in more advanced cases
If you suffer from any of the above symptoms, visit our joint replacement and hip specialists. A detailed history, thorough physical exam, and diagnostic imaging such as X-rays or an MRI are usually all that is needed to diagnose arthritis.
