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| Obesity | |||
| Prevalence (home) | |||
| Definition | |||
| Causes | |||
| Why Be Worried? | |||
| Psycho-Social Factors | |||
| Medical Complications | |||
| Hypertension | |||
| Diabetes | |||
| Cholesterol | |||
| Fatty Liver | |||
| Metabolic Syndrome | |||
| Cancer | |||
| Osteoarthritis | |||
| Gallstones | |||
| Heart Attacks/Strokes | |||
| Sleep Apnea | |||
| Medical Treatments | |||
| Gimmicks & Low Carbs | |||
| FAQ's | |||
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| Weight Management Programs | |||
| For Patients | |||
| For Injured Workers | |||
| For Case Managers | |||
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| Eating Disorders | |||
| Compulsive Overeating | Diagnostic Criteria | ||
| Eating Behaviors & Moods | |||
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| Resources | |||
| Patient Education | |||
| Obesity Education Programs (first airing June, 2004) | Consulting & Med-legal Asst | ||
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| Cigna Hall of Shame | |||
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| Accessibility/Section 508 | |||
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| Office Location/Appts. | |||
| Michael D. Myers, M.D.,Inc. | |||
| 10861 Cherry Street, Suite 300 | |||
| Los Alamitos, CA (U.S.) 90720 | |||
| Voice: (562) 493-2266 | |||
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Osteoarthritis
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a disease that results in the breakdown of cartilage and other joint tissues. Cartilage is a firm, rubbery material that covers the end of each bone and acts as a cushion between the bones. When the cartilage wears away, the bones grind together and thicken. Sometimes bony growths (spurs) form. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but most commonly occurs in the weight-bearing joints of the hips, knees, feet, and spine.What causes osteoarthritis?
There are several factors that tend to lead to osteoarthritis, including congenital defects (present at birth), overuse or injury, and obesity.Congenital defects: A person born with a dislocated joint is more likely to develop osteoarthritis later. In addition, people born with defective cartilage are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
Overuse or injury: As people get older they are likely to develop osteoarthritis because of joint damage from injuries and stress on joints over time. Also, athletes (especially weekend athletes) who have previously injured joints are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
Obesity: Being obese causes increase wear and tear on the weight-bearing joints. Over time, the extra weight is likely to damage these joints, especially the knees, hips, and back. Additionally, substances produced by fat cells may actually result in increased "wear and tear," not only in the weight-bearing joints, but in other joints as well.
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
The symptoms usually begin slowly and gradually progress. You may feel mild aching and soreness, especially when you move. A few people develop a constant nagging pain, even when they're resting. Usually, the affected joint(s) hurt most after you've used them and you will probably find it difficult to move the affected joints. Depending on where your arthritis is located, your symptoms may be as follows:- Hips: You may feel pain
around the groin or inner thigh or even in the knee or buttocks. The pain
may
cause limping or favoring of the affected leg.
- Knees: You may feel
tenderness in the knee area and a grating or catching sensation
in your joint
when you move it. It may be painful to walk up or down stairs or hills.
- Fingers: The breakdown
of joint tissue in the fingers causes bony growths (spurs) to form in
these
joints. Spurs in the end joints of fingers are called Heberden's nodes;
those in the joints in the middle of the fingers are called Bouchard's
nodes.
- Feet: You may feel pain
and tenderness in the base of the toes.
- Back: Destruction of joint tissues in the back may lead to compression of nerves emanating from the spinal canal. This may cause you to feel pain at the base of your head, in your neck, legs, lower back, or down your arms.
How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of osteoarthritis results from a combination of physical finding, x-rays finding of the affected joint (looking for destruction of cartilage and changes in the bones typical of osteoarthritis), and blood tests to exclude other diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis.Page 1 of 2 | Next page
| Updated:
28 May 2004. Copyright © 1996-2004 Michael D. Myers, M.D., Inc. All rights reserved. |
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The above information is for general purposes only and should not be construed as definitive or binding medical advice. Because each person is medically different, individuals should consult their own personal physicians for specific information and/or treatment recommendations.