Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease) is a chronic joint disease characterized by deterioration of cartilage (cartilage) joints and nearby bones, which can cause joint pain and stiffness. This disease usually occurs at the age above 70 years. It can occur in men and women, but men can be exposed at a younger age.
OsteoarthritisKnee
CAUSE
Under normal circumstances, the joint has a low degree of friction so it will not easily wear out, except when used in a very exaggerated or injury. Osteoarthritis likely started when an abnormality occurs in the cells that form cartilage components, such as collagen (protein fibers are strong connective tissue) and proteoglycans (materials that make up there silience of cartilage).
Furthermore, the cartilage grows too much, but it will eventually thin out and form cracks on the surface. Small cavity is formed in the marrow of the bone located under the cartilage, so that bones become brittle. Excessive bone growth on the outskirts of the joints and cause bumps (osteophytes), which can be seen and felt. These bumps affect the normal function of joints and cause pain.
Ultimately, the cartilage surface is smooth and slippery turns into rough and potholed, so that the joints are no longer able to move smoothly. All components of the joints (bone, joint capsule, synovial tissue, tendons and cartilage) and Thrombin failed joints.
Osteoarthritis grouped into:
- Primary osteoarthritis, if the cause is unknown
- Secondary osteoarthritis, if the cause is another disease (eg Paget's disease or ineksi, deformity, injury or excessive use of joints).
People whose jobs cause repetitive stress on joints have a greater risk to suffer from osteoarthritis. This type of work such as mine workers and bus drivers.
Obesity is thought to be a major factor in the occurrence of osteoarthritis, but the proof is not strong enough.
SYMPTOMS
When x-ray done on people aged 40 years, most will show onset of osteoarthritis, especially in load-bearing joints like the hip joint, but few have symptoms. Symptoms usually develop gradually and at first only on one or a few joints. What is often affected are the finger joints, base of the thumb, neck, lower back, big toes, hips and knees. Pain will usually get worse if the exercise, the first symptom. Some people feel the stiffness in the joints when waking up or in other non-active activity, but the stiffness usually disappears within 30 minutes after they re-move the joint. Damage due to orteoartritis worsened, so the joint becomes difficult mobilized and will eventually stop at a bent position. The new growth of bone, cartilage and other tissues can cause swelling of joints, and cartilage that causes the rough sound of rattling when the joint is moved. Bone growth (node Herbeden) often occur at joints in the fingers.
In some joints (eg knee joint), ligaments (which surround and support the joints) stretched so that the joint becomes unstable. Touching or moving the joint can cause severe pain. The hip joint becomes stiff and loses power, so moving the hip joint motion also causes pain. Osteoarthritis often occurs in the spine. Its main symptom is back pain. Usually damage to joints in the spine only causes pain and stiffness that are mild. Osteoarthritis of the neck or lower back can cause numbness, tingling, pain and weakness in arms or legs, if the growth of excess bone pressing persarafannya. Sometimes blood vessels leading to the back of the depressed brain, causing impaired vision, vertigo, nausea and vomiting. Bone growth can also suppress the esophagus and cause difficulty swallowing.
