Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is caused by the breakdown of cartilage, Ayurveda has the best treatment for all type of arthritis.

1. OSTEOARTHRITIS
Dr. Ramkumar
© Punarnava Ayurveda
May 2008
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2. OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is caused by the breakdown of
cartilage. Cartilage is the tough elastic material that covers and protects the ends of
bones. Bits of cartilage may break off and cause pain and swelling in the joint between
bones. This pain and swelling is called inflammation. Over time the cartilage may wear away
entirely, and the bones will rub together. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint but usually
affects hips, knees, hands and spine.
Osteoarthritis is classified as non-inflammatory arthritis. This suggests that there is no
inflammation (swelling), but recent research shows that this is not true. Although there is
usually no swelling in the early stage of the disease, as the arthritis progresses there can
be inflammation. Bits of cartilage may break off and float around inside the joint. This
disturbs other soft tissues inside the joint and can cause pain and swelling between bones.
The result is you may have trouble moving the joint.
Over time as the cartilage wears down, the bones may form bumps on their ends. These
bumps are called spurs. Or, the cartilage may wear away entirely, and your bones may rub
together.
OA may lead to other problems such as:
• The muscles that hold the joint in place weaken because they are not being used.
• Over time, the joint looses its shape and does not work at all.
There are many kinds of arthritis. The most common kind is called osteoarthritis (or OA for
short). It affects men and women in equal numbers. Most people develop osteoarthritis
after the age of 45, but it can occur at any age.
What are the warning signs of osteoarthritis?
• Pain, stiffness and swelling around a joint that lasts longer than two weeks.
• The joints that are usually affected are the hips, knees, feet and spine. Finger and
thumb joints might also be affected.
• If you are experiencing persistent joint pain, visit your Ayurveda physician
Damage due to OA progresses slowly over time and may result in several problems. You may
have pain, especially when moving a joint. Sometimes, you may hear a grating sound when the
roughened cartilage on the surface of the bones rubs together. Bumps or swelling may
appear, especially on the fingers and feet. A joint may feel sore and stiff, and the joint
won't move as easily or as far as it once did. All these changes can make it hard to move
around and to do everyday tasks, such as opening a jar or walking up stairs.
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3. What causes osteoarthritis?
• The exact cause is unknown.
• The chances of getting osteoarthritis seem to increase with age.
• Some people with osteoarthritis have other family members with it.
• Being overweight can increase your risk of getting osteoarthritis.
• Excess weight puts stress on joints such as hips and knees.
• Injury to a joint or repeated overuse of it can also damage the cartilage and lead to
osteoarthritis.
• Other types of arthritis can also damage joints and lead to osteoarthritis.
Key risk factors
Heredity
The way your bones fit together may have been passed on to you from your parents.
Sometimes joints don’t fit right or the cushion between your bones is not normal. You
may not have problems until you are older.
Excess Weight
Excess weight puts extra stress on the weight-bearing joints, especially the knees and hips.
The good news is losing weight, even just 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms), can help prevent
osteoarthritis in your knees. Even if you have osteoarthritis in your knees, losing weight can
make you feel better. Less body weight means less stress on your knees.
Joint Injury
If you damaged a joint and it did not heal completely, you may end up with osteoarthritis in
that joint later in life. Certain occupations may predispose you to osteoarthritis. For
example, people that must work in a squat position over many years may be more susceptible
to osteoarthritis of the knees.
Complications of another type of Arthritis
Sometimes osteoarthritis is caused by damage from a different kind of joint disease that
occurred years before. For example, people with rheumatoid arthritis can develop
osteoarthritis in those joints in which the rheumatoid inflammation has largely burnt out.
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4. What can you do about osteoarthritis?
• If your doctor thinks you have osteoarthritis, he or she may perform a physical
examination and order tests such as x-rays.
• Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are a number of steps you can
take to manage your pain and lead an active life.
• Learn as much as you can about this disease. Speaking with people who are
specialists in arthritis care can provide you with the information you need.
Establishing the correct diagnosis is very important, because something can be done to
manage most forms of arthritis, and most therapies work best when started early in the
disease.
Your Ayurveda physician may be able to diagnose OA based on your medical history and a
physical examination. Sometimes, your doctor may order certain tests to help confirm the
diagnosis, to determine how much joint damage exists, or to distinguish among different
types of arthritis. These tests may include x-rays, blood tests or joint fluid tests.
Although there is no cure for OA, a lot can be done to help manage the condition. A variety
of treatments can help to lessen pain and stiffness and to make movement easier. Your
active involvement in developing your prescribed treatment plan is essential.
Your Ayurveda physician can certainly contribute significantly in helping to manage your
condition. A combination of Ayurveda medicines, diet, exercise and small lifestyle changes
can help you considerably.
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