What is Osteoarthrit?

Osteoarthritis, commonly referred to as "joint wear and tear," is a chronic condition that occurs due to the gradual deterioration of the cartilage tissue in the joints, leading to wear and tear, and a decrease in the fluid between the joints. This deterioration causes pain, stiffness, and movement limitations in the joints. It particularly affects joints such as the knees, hips, elbows, wrists, ankles, and spine.

Osteoarthritis, which can be caused by obesity, age, gender, various joint injuries, and genetic factors, negatively impacts the quality of life by making daily activities more difficult for individuals. In addition to pain and stiffness in the joints and limited movement, it also presents symptoms such as swelling in the joints, changes in the shape of the joints, stiffness, tenderness, and sounds coming from the joint. Osteoarthritis symptoms usually develop slowly and can worsen over time. These symptoms can affect the quality of life and make daily activities difficult.

Osteoarthritis is classified into 4 stages, and usually stages 2 and above are considered definite osteoarthritis. At lower stages, the joint space may not be significantly affected, and the damage may be minimal, while in high-stage osteoarthritis cases, there is a significant reduction in joint function. This reduction in joint function and the functional impairment it causes in the patient, along with pain, swelling, tenderness, and difficulty in movement, significantly affects the patient's quality of life. In osteoarthritis, in addition to the damage to the joint tissue, the reduction and damage of the internal content of the joint and the resulting internal and external damage, disintegration, and dysfunction of the joint is a condition that many people face due to various factors. So how is it treated?

The goal in the treatment of osteoarthritis is to reduce pain and improve joint function. Physical therapy applications, weight loss, certain oral medications, topical creams, and intra-articular injections can be used in treatment. Additionally, appropriate nutrition and weight control are important to slow down the progression of the disease. In the early stages of the disease, lifestyle and living standard changes may be sufficient or delay the progression of the disease; however, in advanced cases, external interventions are needed.