Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis a painful condition and one of the commonest causes of physical disability among the aged, mostly affecting the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and weight bearing joints like knee, hip and ankle
It's usually the result of years of wear and tear on joints and occurs when cartilage, the tissue cushioning ends of the bones within the joints disintegrates and wears away. This causes friction among bones, leading to pain, swelling deformity and loss of motion in the joint.
While osteoarthritis mostly affect women, more so after menopause, men also can get affect after 60's. The knees are among the joints most frequently damaged by osteoarthritis and can even lead to disability. Osteoarthritis of the hip on the other hand severely impairs the mobility.
Some common symptoms of osteoarthritis are: joint pain, swelling or tenderness in one or more joints, stiffness after getting out of bed, or sitting for a long time, unable to walk even a few yard and a crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone. Osteoarthritis of weight bearing joints progress at much faster rate in presence of osteoporosis (soft and weak bone), and can make a patient crippled easily, if proper timely measures are not taken
Diagnosis involves a medley of assessments including medical history, physical examination, x rays and lab tests a patient's daily activities and mental state are important factors too which doctors consider, while relating to the symptoms of osteoarthritis affecting the patient's daily life.
In terms of treatment options, exercise is one of the best tools. It inculcates a positive outlook, manages pain better, and helps in watching one's weight. For temporary pain relief, patients can try warm towels, hot packs, a warm bath or shower. Nsaids or non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs also help reduce pain and inflammation from osteoarthritis.
Lastly for end stage osteoarthritis and when other modalities of treatment have been tried and failed surgery like" joint replacement" can give new leash of life to the patient.