Osteoarthritis and joint pain: symptoms and treatment

Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain: Symptoms and Treatment

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that primarily affects older adults. However, aside from chronological age, many other factors contribute to its development. How we can influence the course of the disease is discussed by Tena Tarade, mag. pharm.

Joint Pain: One of the Most Common Complaints

Joint pain is one of the most frequent reasons people visit a primary care physician. Almost everyone experiences joint pain at least once in their lifetime. Beyond the discomfort, joint pain is a leading cause of reduced work capacity among the working population.

With increasing life expectancy, more people suffer from joint problems. Long-term pain not only reduces quality of life but can also limit mobility and even cause depression. Therefore, it is crucial to start treatment promptly.

Causes of Joint Pain and Inflammation

Pain, whether acute or chronic, can originate in the joint itself or surrounding tissues. It may affect:

• One joint: called monoarticular pain

• Multiple joints: called polyarticular pain

Joints can simply be painful (arthralgia) or also inflamed (arthritis). Signs of inflammation include redness, swelling, and warmth.

The most common cause of joint pain is injury, but non-traumatic causes include:

• Osteoarthritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Psoriatic arthritis

• Gout and pseudogout

• Fibromyalgia

• Bursitis (inflammation of fluid-filled sacs)

• Tendinitis and tenosynovitis (tendon inflammation)

• Systemic lupus erythematosus

• Acute rheumatic fever

• Lyme disease arthritis

• Viral infections

• Tumors

Differences: Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Rheumatism

• Arthritis: A general term for joint inflammation, encompassing many disorders.

• Osteoarthritis (OA): The most common joint disease and leading cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain and disability in older adults. It is a chronic, progressive degenerative disease caused by cartilage breakdown.

• Rheumatism: A colloquial term for joint, bone, and muscle problems; includes various inflammatory and degenerative disorders.

Degenerative diseases are far more common than inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Among inflammatory rheumatic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is most notable. RA is a severe, chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks cartilage, bones, and sometimes internal organs. It usually affects small joints in the hands, shoulders, knees, and ankles and is more common in women.

Symptoms of Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

Both inflammatory (arthritis) and degenerative (OA) diseases often present joint pain, but the characteristics differ:

• Inflammatory arthritis: Pain is worst at rest, especially at night and in the morning, and improves with movement. Swelling occurs due to excess joint fluid and thickened joint lining. The skin over the joint is red and warm.

• Degenerative osteoarthritis: Pain occurs during or after activity and eases with rest. Pain usually worsens at the end of the day and may be aggravated by cold or damp weather. Swelling may occur, primarily due to bony growths in the joint, but the overlying skin usually shows no color or temperature change.

Both conditions can impair joint function and may eventually lead to loss of mobility.

Commonly Affected Joints

Osteoarthritis most often affects:

• Finger joints

• Knees

• Hips

• Spine joints

• Base of the thumb

Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Treatment of OA is multifaceted, and the best results are achieved by combining:

• Pharmacological treatment

• Physical therapy and medical exercises

• Patient education

Key goals include encouraging lifestyle changes and teaching patients how to manage daily activities. Maintaining optimal body weight is essential to reduce joint stress.

• Medications: Analgesics and NSAIDs are used when pain cannot be otherwise managed.

• Topical treatments: Creams, gels, or ointments can be gently applied to painful joints 2–3 times daily.

• Orthopedic aids: Braces or supports may be recommended.

• Surgery: Considered in advanced cases with functional disability.

Natural and Complementary Approaches

Some natural supplements may benefit patients with OA or joint pain, including:

• Glucosamine sulfate

• Chondroitin sulfate

• Hyaluronic acid

• Collagen

• Omega-3 fatty acids

• Turmeric-based preparations

Although not universally recommended in clinical guidelines due to limited statistically significant evidence, these may help some patients when taken consistently for several months. If no benefit occurs, supplementation should be stopped.

Supplements for Joints and Cartilage

• Glucosamine and chondroitin: Components of proteoglycans; may normalize cartilage metabolism, reduce cartilage degradation, exert anti-inflammatory effects, and improve joint function.

• Vitamin D: Deficiency is linked to OA development and progression; supplementation may have a beneficial effect.

• Antioxidants: Vitamins A, C, E, zinc, selenium, and plant extracts (e.g., avocado, boswellia) may help slow disease progression.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Can reduce symptoms and support cartilage recovery.

Nutrition for Osteoarthritis

A proper diet can influence OA progression:
Recommended foods:

• Raw fruits and vegetables

• Herbal teas and water

• Fatty fish

• Olive oil

• Soy, oats, barley

• Flax and pumpkin seeds

Foods to avoid:

• Red meat

• Saturated fats

• Sweets

• Spinach, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, corn, buckwheat, wheat

• Cranberries and plums

Exercises for Osteoarthritis

Regular medical exercise is essential. Recommendations depend on affected joints but generally include:

• Strengthening core, shoulder, and pelvic muscles

• Stretching and strengthening exercises

• Proprioception and mobility exercises

Exercises can be performed on land or in water, with swimming and daily walking offering additional benefits.

Conclusion

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that primarily affects older adults. Other contributing factors include obesity, hormones, injuries, lifestyle, physical inactivity, and repetitive joint stress.

Timely modification of controllable risk factors, along with pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, can significantly influence the course of the disease, slow its progression, and delay physical disability.