Osteoarthritis, commonly referred to as OA, is a condition that affects over 32 million American adults every year. Historically, this condition has been called the wear and tear condition because it usually affects older adults. At RightPath Pain & Spine Centers in Davenport, FL, we understand that the consequences of this condition go far beyond discomfort. Today, we’re taking a closer look at some of the potential complications of this condition and much more.
What Happens If Osteoarthritis Is Left Untreated?
The longer osteoarthritis goes untreated, the worse the symptoms will become. It is a degenerative condition, meaning that it will not get better on its own over time. While this condition is rarely fatal, it can cause significant disability. For example, this condition can result in numerous metabolic diseases, like obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Hypertension and high cholesterol are other potential consequences of letting this condition go untreated for too long.
OA also increases the risk of falling by 30%. It is extremely important that you take care to not fall if you suffer from OA. People with this condition are 20% more likely than others to break their bones when they fall. If you suffer from OA, you may want to take steps to mitigate the risk of a fall, like walking with a cane. This is particularly important if your OA is causing you such problems as poor balance, weak muscles, and less range of motion.
Can Exercise Treat My Condition?
Exercise can go a long way in improving the symptoms of OA. For example, this condition can cause muscle weakness, and getting 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity per week can help you keep your muscles strong. Physical activity can also ease joint stiffness and help you keep your weight in check. If you are obese or overweight, you may want to get 2.5 hours of vigorous exercise or five hours of moderate exercise weekly to help you lose weight.
What Exercises Can Help Me Treat My Condition?
What exercises will help you manage your condition the best depends on several factors, including the joints affected and the symptoms you are experiencing. If your knees or ankles are affected by OA, you should make sure to incorporate lots of balance exercises into your weekly routine. This will mitigate your risk of a fall that could result in a bone fracture.
Stretches and other range-of-motion exercises can also improve your quality of life. You may want to start each morning with ROM exercises because they can ease stiffness and other discomforts that get worse after long periods of inactivity, like a night of sleep. Low-impact cardio can also significantly reduce symptoms, especially if excess weight is exacerbating your symptoms. Anaerobic exercise can also help to reduce stress and combat muscle weakness.
What Other Lifestyle Choices Can Help Me Manage My Symptoms?
Relaxing is another effective step you can take to help you manage your symptoms. Mental stress can lead to physical inflammation, including inflammation around your joints. Try to take time every day to relax, especially if life is stressful for you right now. If stress relief isn’t already part of your routine, it may take a while for you to find an effective technique for you. Methods that work for other people include:
- Hot baths
- Long walks
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Coloring
- Putting together a puzzle
You should also take care to protect your joints. One effective way you can protect your joints is to make sure that you warm up before you exercise. This may include dynamic stretches, gentle walking, or other ways to get your blood flowing a little more before you work out more intensely. Another effective way you can protect your joints is to make sure that you cool down after your workout. This may include gentle walking and static stretches.
Can My Diet Help Me Manage My Symptoms?
It is possible that your diet can help you manage your symptoms. If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, make sure that you keep it under control. The longer you have high glucose levels, the more likely it is that your cartilage will break down faster due to excessive stiffness.
Furthermore, diabetes can result in inflammation that can exacerbate a number of OA symptoms, like pain, discomfort, and tenderness. If you suffer from diabetes but do not have help regulating your blood sugar levels in the form of insulin or a similar medication, make sure that you keep your blood sugar levels in check through a healthy diet, minimizing your consumption of quick carbs and eating lots of high-protein, small meals or snacks throughout the day.
Will I Need Surgery to Treat My Condition?
Whether surgery is necessary to treat your condition depends on several factors, including the severity of your condition and the success of more conservative treatment methods. In some cases, a partial joint replacement may be necessary to restore function to a joint damaged by OA. In other cases, a total joint replacement may be necessary to treat pain and restore range of motion.
Will Physical Therapy Help Me If I Have OA?
Yes, physical therapy can benefit you significantly if you suffer from OA. Sometimes, physical therapy can treat this condition effectively. The less severe your condition is, the more likely it is that you can treat your condition with only physical therapy and other conservative treatment methods. However, the more severe your symptoms are, the more likely it is that you will need surgery and PT.
It is important to note that physical therapy is a very important factor in surgery recovery if you need surgery to treat your OA. You may only need to see a physical therapist for the first four to eight weeks post-op. However, it can take up to a year to recover from surgery fully.
What Are the Symptoms of This Condition?
Some of the most common osteoarthritis symptoms are pain, stiffness, and tenderness. You may notice that the joints affected by the condition hurt during or after physical activities that require their environment. For instance, if you have knee OA, you may notice that your knee hurts during or after going for a walk. Similarly, playing softball may result in shoulder discomfort or pain if you have OA in your shoulder joint.
Loss of flexibility is another very common symptom of this condition. For example, you may find that you can’t lift your arm all the way over your head anymore. Similarly, you may discover that you can no longer straighten your leg out completely. You also should not be surprised if the soft tissue around your affected joint becomes inflamed and swollen. You also may grow bone spurs or notice a grating, popping sensation when you use your affected joint.
What Are the Risk Factors for Developing This Condition?
To reiterate, this condition usually affects older adults. However, there are other significant risk factors, including sex, obesity, and joint injuries. While it is not yet clear why, women are far more likely than men to develop OA. Obesity is a very significant risk factor for wear and tear because the more you weigh, the more stressed your weight-bearing joints are.
It is worth noting that in addition to increasing your risk of developing OA, obesity exacerbates the symptoms. Adipose tissue is responsible for producing proteins that can result in painful inflammation in the joint area. It is also worth noting that old joint injuries that you think healed completely can lead to the development of OA. Bone deformities, genes, certain metabolic diseases, and repeated joint stress due to your occupation or hobbies can increase your risk of OA.
What Causes This Condition?
OA is caused by the deterioration of the cartilage that cushions your bones. Over time, the cartilage can wear down completely, resulting in your bones rubbing against each other. However, this condition doesn’t just affect the cartilage in your joint. Eventually, it can affect the whole joint.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that there are a number of complications that can arise if osteoarthritis is left untreated. For example, this condition can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and bone fractures caused by falls. If you suspect you suffer from OA, contact us today at RightPath Pain & Spine Centers in Davenport, FL to schedule your initial consultation. Regardless of your condition, we can help you restore your quality of life safely and quickly.