How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?
Your doctor will check that your
pain is not caused by another problem.
He or she will ask questions about your symptoms, such as:
- Is the pain burning, aching, or sharp?
- Are your
joints stiff in the morning? If yes, how long does the stiffness
last?
- Do you have any joint swelling?
If your joints are tender and swollen and the muscles are weak, this
will also help your doctor confirm whether you have arthritis. You may also
have to check your joints for damage.
Your doctor may want to do blood tests or other tests to see if there are other
causes for your pain.
How is it treated?
There are many treatments for arthritis, but what
works for someone else may not help you. Work with your doctor to find what is
best for you. Often a mix of things helps the most.
Your treatment may
include:
- Using pain medicine.
If your pain is mild, over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen (for example,
Tylenol) and
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help. Commonly used NSAIDs include ibuprofen (such as Advil and Motrin), naproxen (such as Aleve), and aspirin (such as Bayer and Bufferin). But if these don't get rid of
your pain, you may need a stronger prescription medicine. Having shots of
medicine in the joint also helps some people.
- Using heat or ice on the painful joint. Heat may help you loosen up before an activity. Ice is a good
pain reliever after activity or exercise. Your doctor may give you gels or
creams that you can rub on the joint to make it stop hurting.
- Losing weight, if you're overweight. Losing weight may be one
of the best things you can do for your arthritis. It helps take some of the
stress off of your joints.
- Exercising to strengthen your muscles. Having stronger thigh muscles, for example, can help
reduce stress on your knees. Swimming, biking, and walking are good activities.
But make sure you talk to your doctor about what kind of activity is best for
you. You may also get help from a physical therapist.
- Having surgery. If the pain in your hip or knee does not get better with treatment, you may decide to have surgery to replace the joint.
There are also some things you can do at home to help relieve your symptoms. For example, there are devices and tools that can take the stress and weight off of your joints and make it easier for you to hold objects, open and close things, and walk. Doorknob covers, tape, braces, splints, and canes may help.