Osteoarthritis

Acromioclavicular arthritis (AC joint arthritis) may cause pain at the front of the shoulder, with symptoms that sometimes get better only to return worse later.

The shoulder is a complex piece of anatomy that includes four joints where the humerus (upper arm), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collarbone) meet.

Research suggests many people develop acromioclavicular osteoarthritis (AC joint arthritis) as they age, with most people having one or more risk factors.

Before diagnosing a person with acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, a physician must perform a thorough examination and may order medical imaging, such as x-rays.

Physicians use a comprehensive approach to rule out other potential sources of pain, including rotator cuff problems or cervical degenerative disc disease.

Degeneration in the ankle between the talus, tibia, and fibula bones where the shin and foot meet can cause osteoarthritis, leading to pain and discomfort.

Ankle osteoarthritis is often preceded by an ankle injury, and may initially feel like the old injury, but there are other determining factors as well.

In order to diagnose ankle arthritis, other causes, such as musculoskeletal injury or rheumatoid arthritis, must be ruled out. Medical imaging may be ordered.

Steroid and hyaluronic acid injections may help reduce symptoms of ankle arthritis. Platelet rich plasma and stem cell injections are recommended less commonly.

Ankle arthritis can make standing and walking painful. Adopting a few new habits can help ease ankle pain and make day-to-day life more enjoyable.

Physician recommendations to treat ankle osteoarthritis pain may include footwear changes, physical therapy, medications, and/or bracing or other supportive devices.

When other treatments for ankle arthritis fail, surgery may be recommended such as ankle debridement, ankle fusion, ankle replacement. 

Ankle osteoarthritis pain may be accompanied by stiffness and swelling and may even affect walking gait.

Hip osteoarthritis can take years to develop, and its underlying cause can be related to a combination of genetics, injuries, lifestyle, and even birthweight.

To diagnose hip osteoarthritis, a physician has to rule out other conditions, such as hip bursitis. Sometimes diagnosis involves medical imaging and testing.

Hip osteoarthritis can cause pain in the hip, groin, or low back. It may come with stiffness, a loss of range of motion, and joint popping sounds.

Treatments available for hip osteoarthritis range from weight loss and exercise to therapeutic injections. Often more than one treatment is used for greater effect.

Home treatments that can ease knee pain and potentially slow down the progression of knee arthritis include an anti-inflammatory diet, proper shoes, and exercise.

There are many ways to reduce knee arthritis symptoms at home that can provide fast relief and reduction of long-term knee pain, stiffness, and other symptoms.

Osteoarthritis causes back pain that ranges from mild to severe. Understanding osteoarthritis can help patients slow the disease's progression and also reduce pain.

Osteoarthritis is sometimes accompanied by spinal stenosis—a narrowing of the bone channel occupied by the spinal nerves or the spinal cord.

Although not causative, knee osteoarthritis risk factors include obesity, age over 45 years old, and prior knee injury.

An accurate diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis includes a physician interview and physical exam as well as verifying the degeneration by diagnostic imaging.

Knee osteoarthritis symptoms can vary widely. Recognizing these symptoms early on can speed up treatment and help prevent symptoms from getting worse.

Treatment for knee osteoarthritis includes physical therapy, pain medications, losing weight, surgery, and therapeutic injections, often combining more than one.

Many known factors contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. Age, genetics, and even past surgeries may increase the risk of developing arthritic joint pain.

Getting a diagnosis for osteoarthritis begins with a patient interview and exam and may include lab tests and/or medical imaging.

Osteoarthritis can cause a wide array of symptoms, ranging from stiff and aching joints to bone spurs and a loss of range of motion.

There are many osteoarthritis treatments available today, with some such as physical therapy considered standard, some less common and possibly controversial ones.

Hand weakness, pain, and stiffness are just a few symptoms of hand osteoarthritis. These and other symptoms and used by doctors to help diagnose the condition.

Anyone can develop osteoarthritis in their hands, but certain factors can increase your risk, such as age, previous injuries, occupation, and even weight.

There are several ways of easing pain from osteoarthritis while at home, including rest and physical therapy.

Several factors increase risk of developing shoulder osteoarthritis in the glenohumeral joint, including previous shoulder trauma, advanced age, and gene factors.

To diagnose shoulder osteoarthritis, physicians use investigative tools starting with a patient interview and physical exam and verification by diagnostic imaging.

Pain and stiffness at the back of the shoulder is a major symptom of shoulder osteoarthritis. Other signs include shoulder impingement and crepitus.

Common non-surgical treatments used to control joint pain and slow the degeneration include activity modification, physical therapy, and medications.

There is no way to definitively test for spinal osteoarthritis, but doctors use techniques such a patient interview, physical exam, injection, and medical imaging.

The precise cause of osteoarthritis in the spine is unknown, but risk factors may include advanced age, damage to vertebral discs, and more.

Symptoms of spinal arthritis include back pain, stiffness, swelling, and tenderness.

Spinal osteoarthritis cannot be reversed, but treatment can slow its progression and control pain.

Certain sections and structures of the spine are more prone to damage from osteoarthritis, such as the L4-L5 vertebral segments, the L5-S1, and the C3-C7 segments.

The most common surgery to treat hip osteoarthritis is hip replacement, but there are other options such as hip resurfacing and osteotomy.

There are nonsurgical treatment options for shoulder osteoarthritis that can be done at home. Additionally, therapeutic injections and surgeries are also available.

The two most common types of surgery to treat pain from osteoarthritis are vertebral fusion and laminectomy.

Treating ankle arthritis can involve lifestyle changes, medical interventions, injections, and/or surgery.

Osteoarthritis of the hand may be treated using a wide array of home care and integrative medical treatments. Rarely, surgery is recommended.

Acromioclavicular arthritis (AC joint arthritis) occurs when cartilage is lost at the front of the shoulder, with some people experiencing bone changes as well.

Ankle osteoarthritis involves the loss of cartilage, which can lead to other changes that cause ankle pain such as inflammation and alterations to the bones.

Hip osteoarthritis can affect daily activities, with pain originating in changes in the hip’s cartilage, bone, and other soft tissues.

Knee osteoarthritis can affect daily activities. Changes in the knee’s cartilage, bone, and other soft tissues can lead to pain and stiffness.

Joint pain may be a sign of osteoarthritis, which is caused by the breakdown of cartilage and underlying bone in joints such as the hands, knees, hips, and others.

Spinal osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain and stiffness in the back, resulting from a breakdown of facet joint cartilage leads to changes in vertebral bone.

Painful, stiff hands can be a sign of osteoarthritis. It occurs when the cartilage between the small bones of the knuckle and wrist joints deteriorates.