Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is one of the most common chronic joint issues. It causes the breakdown of cartilage, the protective tissue that connects bones. As a result, people with osteoarthritis would suffer from stiffness and pain due to rubbing bones. The condition mostly occurs in the elderly, but people of all ages would have it. Also, this is a leading cause of disability in many people. Below is everything that you should know about osteoarthritis, including its symptoms, treatments, and causes.
4 Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Joint Pain
People with osteoarthritis tend to feel pain or discomfort around the joints in their feet or knees. The symptom often flares up after intense physical activities or an extended period of rest and inactivity. It is mostly caused by the stiffness and soreness of the joints. In most cases, the pain might progress over time instead of showing up unexpectedly. Some commonly affected areas include lower back, knees, as well as hips. However, you can also feel pain in other regions in feet and fingers. The pain can be asymmetric and occur on one side of the body. This makes it much more difficult to identify. [1]