What doctors want patients to know about osteoarthritis

From ama-assn.org

Joint pain and stiffness may signal osteoarthritis. Learn more about the symptoms of osteoarthritis, risk factors and treatments that can help 

AT A GLANCE: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, causing joint pain, stiffness and reduced mobility as cartilage gradually tears down over time. Here are four key things you will learn about osteoarthritis from Alexey Fomin, MD, PhD, a rheumatologist with Hattiesburg Clinic:

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is caused by the gradual breakdown of cartilage that cushions the joints. 

With osteoarthritis, knees, hips, hands and spine are most often affected and can lead to pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced range of motion. 

Age, prior joint injuries, repetitive stress, excess weight and genetics can all increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis. 

Treatment of osteoarthritis focuses on managing symptoms and preserving mobility, often through exercise, weight management, physical therapy and pain relief options.

Before joint pain and stiffness begin to interfere with daily activities, osteoarthritis often develops gradually over time. As the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis affects millions of people and occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions joints wears down, making movement more difficult and sometimes painful. While there is no cure, early diagnosis, lifestyle changes and treatment can help people manage symptoms, stay active and maintain their quality of life. 

Osteoarthritis is a common disease

“What I usually explain to my patients is that osteoarthritis is pretty common,” Dr. Fomin said, noting that “one in seven adults in the United States actually has osteoarthritis. It is a common disease and it’s one of the leading causes of disability.”

With osteoarthritis, “we are talking about the regular wear and tear changes in the joints. These changes most often affect weight-bearing joints such as the lower back, hips, knees and feet. The joints in the hands are also frequently affected because we rely on them for daily activities,” Dr. Fomin said.

“We predominantly see women rather than men with osteoarthritis, and it is one of the most common diseases after 45 years old,” he said.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis start with pain

With osteoarthritis, a main symptom is “pain at the beginning of the day. That’s what we call starting pain,” Dr. Fomin said. “When you wake up, you may notice pain and stiffness in the joint. As you begin moving and using the joint, it tends to loosen up and feel better.”

“In the morning and at the start of activity, there is pain,” he said. “But as the day goes on and you continue using the joint, the pain often returns. The more stress you put on the joint, the more discomfort you may experience.”

“Morning stiffness associated with osteoarthritis typically does not last long,” Dr. Fomin said. “It’s usually about 15 to 30 minutes, but it can still be quite painful.”

“Other symptoms may include a reduced range of motion, as well as grinding, clicking or popping sensations in the joint. Some people find that a hot shower or warm water helps loosen up stiff joints and improves movement,” he added.

Genetics can play a role in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis “is not just mechanical damage and degeneration. Sometimes osteoarthritis appears as early as age 40, while some women in their 70s or 80s have no issues and their joints still look great,” Dr. Fomin said. “So, it’s not simply a matter of age or getting older. Rather, it results from a combination of different factors.”

For example, “osteoarthritis is influenced in part by genetics,” he said. “If you have strong cartilage and a favourable genetic makeup, your joints are more likely to stay healthy. But if there is a family history of early osteoarthritis, your risk of developing the condition is higher.”

Your risk for osteoarthritis also depends on use of joints

“Osteoarthritis also depends on how much you use your joints. If your job is not physically demanding and you spend most of your time working in an office, you may be less likely to develop significant arthritis,” Dr. Fomin said. “But in physically demanding jobs, such as construction or factory work, we sometimes see younger people who use their hands extensively and experience joint degeneration.”

“So, osteoarthritis is influenced by how much you use your joints, as well as genetics and other factors,” he said. “Some people who eat a healthy diet and stay physically active have relatively few joint problems, while others who pay less attention to diet and exercise may experience more issues. 

“This is especially true for weight-bearing joints—the more weight those joints have to support, the greater the stress and wear on them,” Dr. Fomin added. 

Erosive osteoarthritis is bad joint destruction

“There is one type of osteoarthritis that behaves differently,” Dr. Fomin said. “It is called erosive osteoarthritis, and it primarily affects the hands, causing significant joint damage.”

“On X-rays, we often see severe cartilage loss and extensive bone erosion,” he explained. “It can resemble autoimmune arthritis, but it is actually a degenerative condition.” 

“Unlike standard wear-and-tear osteoarthritis, it features an inflammatory component that actively breaks down cartilage and leads to central bone erosion. It mainly affects the finger joints,” Dr. Fomin said.

Osteoarthritis requires a clinical diagnosis

“Osteoarthritis is often a clinical diagnosis, which means blood tests and X-rays are not always necessary,” Dr. Fomin said. “In many cases, the diagnosis can be made by listening to the patient’s symptoms and performing a physical examination. Bloodwork may then be used to help rule out other types of arthritis.”

“An X-ray mainly helps us assess the extent of joint damage,” he said. “Patients often report having joint pain for a long time that may have started intermittently, like at the beginning of the day, but gradually became more constant.”

“During the physical exam, the joint may appear enlarged because of bone spur growth, which can cause some deformity,” Dr. Fomin said. “You may also notice a decreased range of motion. By combining the patient’s history with the physical findings, you can often make the diagnosis.”

Treatment of osteoarthritis is mainly supportive

“Unfortunately, we do not currently have highly effective medications to treat osteoarthritis, so treatment is primarily supportive,” Dr. Fomin said. “By supportive, I mean that there is no medication available that can slow the progression of the disease or reverse the damage that has already occurred. Our focus is on managing symptoms.”

“For patients with osteoarthritis affecting weight-bearing joints, lifestyle changes are often an important part of treatment,” he said. “We encourage patients to lose weight through physical activity and healthy eating because the more weight a joint has to support, the more damage is likely to occur.”

As a first-line treatment, “we typically start with a pain medication such as acetaminophen,” Dr. Fomin said. “It is available over the counter and patients may use up to 4,000 milligrams per day.”

“If that doesn’t work, we can use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications,” he said. “These medications can help reduce joint pain and stiffness. Unfortunately, they can also cause side effects, including stomach irritation, kidney problems and increased blood pressure.”

Dr. Fomin also noted that many supplements marketed for joint health such as glucosamine, chondroitin, turmeric and omega-3 fatty acids, remain popular among patients. 

“Some patients tell us these supplements help and make their joints feel much better,” he said. “But scientifically speaking, multiple studies have not shown strong evidence that they provide significant benefit.”

“Steroid injections into the joint can sometimes help relieve pain as well,” Dr. Fomin said. “We also strongly recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint. Surgery is generally considered a last resort for treating osteoarthritis.”

You can live a normal life with osteoarthritis

“If you compare osteoarthritis with inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which can cause severe joint deformities and significantly impair joint function, osteoarthritis is generally less severe,” Dr. Fomin said. “Although it can cause joint problems and discomfort, it tends to progress very slowly, making it easier for many people to live with.”

“Osteoarthritis usually does not cause the same degree of functional impairment seen with other forms of arthritis, so the overall prognosis is often better,” he said. “At the same time, because we do not have treatments that can stop or reverse the disease, it can sometimes lead to permanent disability.”

Prevent osteoarthritis with lifestyle changes

Preventing osteoarthritis “is all about your lifestyle,” Dr. Fomin said. That includes “eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.”

“But if osteoarthritis runs in your family, it can be more difficult to prevent it from developing,” he said. Even so, it is important to “exercise regularly, eat healthy and maintain a healthy body weight.”

With osteoarthritis, listen to your body

“First of all, it’s important to understand what is causing your joint symptoms. If you don’t know what is behind the pain, it can create anxiety,” Dr. Fomin said. “Some patients come into our office worried that they are going to become completely disabled. We have to reassure them that osteoarthritis is a slow-moving process and, for most people, it is not going to have that level of impact.”

“The second thing is that it all comes down to lifestyle,” he said. “Try to stay active, but at the same time avoid overusing your joints. For example, if you have knee pain or hand pain, it may not be a good idea to move heavy furniture or take on physically demanding projects such as home renovations.”

“Sometimes patients tell us their joints are feeling better, so they start running or doing other high-impact activities,” Dr. Fomin said. “But that may not help in the long run. You have to listen to your body. If your pain is increasing, it is probably a sign that you need to rest the joint.”

Visit your doctor if osteoarthritis is interfering with your daily routine

“If osteoarthritis has started to interfere with your daily routine and you’re no longer able to do the things you normally do, it’s a good idea to see your doctor,” Dr. Fomin said. “If it affects your work or your ability to carry out activities at home, you should definitely talk to your doctor about it.”

“Joint swelling is not typically associated with osteoarthritis and may be a sign of inflammatory arthritis, so it should be evaluated by a doctor,” he said. “You should also seek medical attention if you begin experiencing joint pain at night.”

https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/chronic-diseases/what-doctors-want-patients-know-about-osteoarthritis

Joint pain isn’t always arthritis: 7 warning signs women shouldn’t ignore

From healthshots.com

By Dr Sharmila Tulpule 

Joint pain is a warning, not a diagnosis. Checking early signs of join pain will help you identify the cause and get the right treatment 

Joint pain is one of those things that many people think, “Oh, that’s just part of getting older” or “That’s just part of working too hard” or “I may have arthritis”. But for women, when they are in the middle of juggling their careers, keeping their homes running, and taking care of their families, it’s easy for them to sweep their constant discomforts or joint pain issues under the rug. Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of joint pain in women, but there are several other types of medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, hormonal changes, infections, and nutritional deficiencies, among others, that cause this pain.

The sooner these warning signs are recognized, the better the chance of avoiding any long-term problems from these underlying medical conditions, Dr Sharmila Tulpule, orthopaedic surgeon and regenerative medicine specialist, tells Health Shots.

Persistent joint pain, swelling, or morning stiffness may indicate more than arthritis and should be evaluated by a doctor. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock

Warning signs that women in joint pain should not ignore

1. Stiffness of the joints in the morning for longer than an hour with pain

It is typically normal to experience some stiffness after being inactive, but if, after sleeping, you find that your joints are stiff beyond an hour each day, this could be a sign of an inflammatory disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis or RA) rather than simply a degenerative joint type of arthritis. Early identification of these issues is critically important because if diagnosed quickly, the treatment can prevent severely damaged joints and enable the patient to retain function in those same joints.

2. Swelling, redness, and warmth in the area of the joint

Noticeable swelling, redness, or warmth in a joint can indicate that there is an inflammatory process taking place, or an infection or autoimmunity. They should not be self-treated with just over-the-counter pain relievers, especially if they have occurred recently or have worsened over time.

3. The pain is caused by multiple joints being affected

Arthritis from age is mostly found in the larger bones of the skeleton that bear our body weight—for example, hips and knees. However, when several joints are involved at the same time, especially smaller joints—hands, wrists, ankles, and feet—this might indicate a systemic disease like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid issues.

4. Feeling tired continuously along with pain in the joints

If you are always tired no matter how well rested you are, it should raise a red flag. Fatigue, when there is joint pain present, could be from an autoimmune disease, chronic inflammation, and/or a vitamin deficiency. Many women mistakenly identify fatigue as a stress-related reason. However, if you have had fatigue for an extended period of time, you should consult your doctor.

                                                 Persistent tiredness can be linked to many health problems. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock

5. Joint pain following fever or infection

Following a viral or other type of infection, a feverish experience will often leave behind rheumatic joint pain that should be considered very seriously. Some infections can create acute inflammatory reactions in your joints, and if not adequately treated, will potentially lead to chronic inflammatory conditions of your joints.

6. Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite

If you experience any unexplained weight loss or a lack of appetite, there may also be a systemic disease process underlying your arthritic joint pain. It should therefore require immediate evaluation to determine if there are serious underlying illnesses.

7. Difficulty performing everyday activities

Difficulty with daily activities due to joint pain is a sign of how poorly the patient’s condition impacts their quality of life as well as their ability to live independently. Obtaining timely medical counsel at this stage should allow for determining the cause and then starting an appropriate treatment course.

In many cases, women place the wellness of their family’s health ahead of their own. Nevertheless, chronic or atypical joint discomfort should not go unrecognized or be treated as a natural consequence of advancing years. Timely evaluation by a qualified physician will assist in evaluating the cause of the problem and potential risk for future development, as well as increase mobility and create an environment that enhances overall quality of life.

https://www.healthshots.com/preventive-care/self-care/joint-pain-isnt-always-arthritis-7-warning-signs-women-shouldnt-ignore/

Western research could expand remote access to care for thumb arthritis

From news.westernu.ca

Professor Joy MacDermid leading project funded by Ignite Innovation Grant to provide more equitable care 

The burning, grinding pain of thumb arthritis disrupts daily life for one in four older adults in Canada. Thumb splints can reduce pain and improve hand function, and now, a Western University researcher in London, Ont. is working to bring custom 3D-printed splints to patients who can’t access specialist clinics.

Joy MacDermid, a physiotherapy professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences and a member of Western’s Bone and Joint Institute, received an Ignite Innovation Grant from the Arthritis Society of Canada to fund the second phase of her study. It will improve care for people with thumb arthritis, a condition that occurs when cartilage breaks down in the carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb, causing pain, stiffness and weakened grip.

“We see a lot of women over 50 with thumb arthritis, especially those doing physical work,” MacDermid said. “They struggle with daily activities like turning a key or caring for grandchildren.” 

The current standard of care requires a hand therapist to see the patient in person, assess their hand and mold a thermoplastic splint directly onto it. Though a proven process, it depends on physical proximity to a specialist clinic. MacDermid and her team are devising a new solution that doesn’t require in-person visits. 

Splints improve joint alignment in thumb arthritis

As co-director of the clinical research lab at Roth | McFarlane Hand & Upper Limb Centre (Roth | McFarlane) and a scientist at Lawson Research Institute (Lawson) of St. Joseph’s Health Care London, MacDermid leads researchers studying how to measure, predict and reduce upper extremity disability.    

Marjan Saeedi, a physical therapy PhD candidate, is part of the team at Roth | McFarlane. 

“Over time, the CMC joint becomes unstable and misaligned due to cartilage degeneration, affecting the ligaments and muscles as well. Because we use our thumbs constantly, the misalignment and pain worsens,” she said. “A splint helps support joint alignment. It’s even helpful following joint replacement surgery.”   

Western engineering professor and Lawson scientist Louis Ferreira led an earlier Mitacs-funded study with MacDermid and Belgian industry partner Orfit to develop a remote splint-making process using new materials and new 3D hand-scanning technology: an iPhone scanning app or a custom scanner developed in Ferreira’s bioengineering lab. Without the patient being present, the scans captured the precise measurements needed to fabricate 3D-printed custom splints.

MacDermid’s team also developed a clinical app to remotely assess a patient’s pain levels, hand function and splint requirements, replicating the intake process normally done in person. The prototypes made with the new process showed promise.  

“The question now is whether people can use the new methods in routine clinical practice,” MacDermid said. 

Implementing, testing the innovative thumb splint 

MacDermid is leading an Arthritis Society Ignite Grant evaluating how hand therapists use the new process and how patients respond to the 3D-printed splints compared to conventional ones. Her team hopes to scale up the new process by running workshops to train hand therapists at Roth | McFarlane and in community-based clinics across London, Ont. They’re also evaluating scanners that offer more precision than iPhone apps, without the cost of their custom device. 

Patient wearing (top) 3D-printed thumb splints and (bottom) traditionally fabricated splints. (Submitted)

In the trial of the 3D-printed solution, patients receive both a traditionally fabricated splint and a digitally produced one, wearing each for six weeks while researchers assess hand strength, pain levels and patient preference.

“Most were really eager to try the 3D-printed version,” said Saeedi. “The perforations from the printing process improve air circulation, and female patients liked its smaller size and the option to choose the colour, making it like an accessory on their hand.” 

Saeedi is writing her dissertation on what makes patients adhere to consistent use of their splints. Pain relief and comfort top the list, though she has also documented a motivator outside of its main clinical use. 

“Patients say, ‘I can wear it when my grandchildren are around or on public transit, without worrying about pain or further injury if it gets bumped or jostled’,” Saeedi said. “That sense of protection helps keep them using it.” 

Addressing access barriers in thumb arthritis treatment 

The remotely designed, 3D-printed splint is not intended to replace traditional care, but to remove barriers to accessing care.   

“Some of our clients are driving from Owen Sound or Sarnia or Windsor, in the middle of winter,” MacDermid said. “In the future, if their splint gets damaged or their hand changes, we would be able to reprint it from the pattern in our system and mail it to them – no return trip needed.” 

(L to R) Western PhD candidate Marjan Saeedi; Western postdoctoral student and co-principal investigator, Maryam Farzad; research co-ordinator at the Roth | McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre, Katrina Munro; and principal investigator and Western physiotherapy professor Joy MacDermid are part of a research team that aims to make 3D-printed thumb splints accessible to patients no matter where they live. (Colleen MacDonald/Western News)

The Ignite Grant includes funding for MacDermid’s team to adapt their process to make splints for patients recovering from surgery or injections to treat Dupuytren’s contracture, a separate hand condition that causes fingers to permanently bend inward due to thickening and shortening of connective tissue in the palm.  

MacDermid attributes the project’s success from the beginning to contributions from many grad students and postdoctoral scholars across faculties, including those Ferreira supervised. 

“This project is genuinely interdisciplinary. We simply can’t do the clinical work without the engineering, and vice versa,” she said. 

MacDermid says the future of the project could reach communities with some clinical infrastructure but no hand specialist. Going further still, with the help of AI-assisted remote scanning, the process would enable people in remote locations like the Arctic, with no local clinical support at all, to access custom splints.  

For now, the project is already attracting interest from therapists in other provinces who want to attend the workshops. 

“That would be a substantial accomplishment to spread a working clinical process across Canada,” MacDermid said. “This technology could make a real difference for people who currently aren’t getting care at all due to distance, disability or the absence of specialist care.” 

https://news.westernu.ca/2026/06/western-research-3d-printed-splints-thumb-arthritis/

5 Arthritis Treatments That Soothe Sore Joints Without Breaking the Bank

From aol.com

If mornings now begin with stiff knees, achy hips or hands that need a minute to get going, you're far from alone. More than 50 million American adults live with arthritis, and women over 50 are often hit hardest—partly because dropping oestrogen levels affect the cartilage that cushions our joints, leading to pain and swelling. The good news? Doctors say some of the most effective arthritis treatment options are simple, affordable and already sitting in your kitchen, freezer or spice rack.

                                                                                                                   fotolgahan

The best arthritis treatment options to ease pain and stiffness

When arthritis symptoms flare-up, you want fast pain relief. These at-home arthritis treatments reduce inflammation, stiffness and aches so you can feel like yourself again.

Move gently—and often

Cartilage thrives on motion, so the worst thing you can do is settle into the recliner and stay put. "For me, I think the biggest thing is to really work on motion," says Joseph A. Gil, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at University Orthopaedics. The natural course of osteoarthritis is for joints to stiffen and lose mobility, so the goal is staying flexible without pounding sore knees and hips.

Walking, swimming, water aerobics, Pilates and chair yoga are all gentle options that can help with many forms of arthritis. A review in the journal Healthcare even found that pool-based "aquatic exercises" eased joint pain and improved quality of life.

Apply heat in the morning, then ice at night

One of the easiest arthritis treatment strategies costs almost nothing: a heating pad and a bag of frozen peas.

"I think that heat in the morning, when patients wake up stiff, is helpful to get the joint going," Dr. Gil says. "Then at night-time, when the patient has been using the joint all day, putting ice on is very helpful in cooling off the inflammation."

The simple rule for reducing pain, per James Lyons, MD: heat for stiffness, ice for swelling. Heat improves blood flow and relaxes tight muscles, while cold slows blood flow and acts like a natural numbing agent during flare-ups.

A few friendly safety notes: Wrap heating pads or ice packs in a towel, and limit each session to 15 to 20 minutes. If you’re going the icing route for your arthritis treatment, Kimberly J. Templeton, MD, of the University of Kansas Health System, recommends frozen peas because they're cheap and mould beautifully to a sore joint.

Eat the Mediterranean way

What's on your plate matters more than you might think when it comes to treating the many types of arthritis. "A Mediterranean-style diet tends to help the most," confirms Raj Dasgupta, MD. "That means lots of vegetables, fruits, olive oil, fish and whole grains."

The standouts:

• Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines deliver omega-3 fatty acids that ease joint pain and stiffness. Aim for two servings per week.

• Leafy greens, berries and olive oil offer antioxidants that help protect joints from inflammation.

• Nuts and seeds make an easy anti-inflammatory snack.

What to scale back on: processed foods, sugary drinks, excess alcohol, red meat and saturated fats, all of which can trigger inflammation, says Pamela Tambini, MD.

Spice things up

Two pantry staples earn high marks from doctors when it comes to easing arthritis

• Turmeric contains curcumin, an anti-inflammatory powerhouse. Italian scientists found people who took 1,000 mg of curcumin daily for 90 days had 58 percent less joint pain and stiffness. Here's the trick: Curcumin's absorption jumps up to 2,000 percent when paired with black pepper. A cosy cup of turmeric tea with a pinch of pepper does the job.

• Ginger inhibits inflammatory pathways too. Cory Rice, DO, says 500 to 3,000 mg per day may reduce osteoarthritis pain over three months. Registered dietitian Amy Davis notes you may feel some relief from herbs and spices in one to two weeks, with substantial benefits after one to two months of consistent use.

Try these affordable arthritis supplements

Five supplements have the best evidence when it comes to treating arthritis naturally:

• Curcumin (500 mg twice daily): "Studies have shown that curcumin works as well as NSAIDs for pain management without the side effects," says Melina Jampolis, MD.

• Omega-3 fatty acids

• Boswellia (300 to 400 mg daily)

• UC-II collagen (40 mg daily for knees) 

• Vitamin D, especially in winter

Beyond at-home arthritis treatment: When to call your doctor

If pain is interfering with your daily life, speak up. "If there's something impacting you, your ability to function and your quality of life, and nobody's asking about it, then you need to speak up and ask," Dr. Templeton said. Over-the-counter options like Tylenol or ibuprofen can help too—just check with your doctor before taking them regularly.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

https://www.aol.com/articles/5-arthritis-treatments-soothe-sore-013004766.html