5 Signs That Your Osteoarthritis Is Progressing

Osteoarthritis (OA) generally affects weight-bearing joints in your knees, hips, hands, and spine. The most common form of arthritis, OA affects nearly 33 million adults in the United States alone, often resulting in joint pain and stiffness and reduced mobility.

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Robert A. Mileski, MD, helps patients understand the extent of their OA. He uses his years of experience to treat patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee and beyond at Phoenix Orthopedic Group in Scottsdale, Arizona.

What is osteoarthritis?

A degenerative disease of the joints, osteoarthritis makes cartilage, the spongy substance cushioning the area between your bones, deteriorate.

While people dealing with obesity and/or rheumatoid arthritis are more at risk for developing OA, heredity and joint overuse also remain factors. Dr. Mileski diagnoses OA and offers various treatments to slow its progression.

Diagnosing OA

Dr. Mileski reviews your medical history and performs a physical exam. He may also order lab tests and/or X-rays prior to treatment.

Tests include:

• Arthrocentesis: removing joint fluid with a hollow needle
• Arthroscopy: examining your joints with a tiny camera attached to a tube
• Closed synovial biopsy: removing tissue for examination
• Synovial fluid analysis: evaluating the fluid that lubricates your joints

We also use noninvasive thermal and nonthermal ultrasound for both diagnosis and treatment.

OA Treatments

Dr. Mileski offers a range of surgical and nonsurgical treatment for OA, depending upon its location and stage. These may include:

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections

We inject PRP into the joint to promote your body’s natural healing process.

RICE

Rest, ice or heat, compression, and elevation help reduce joint pain at home. 

Medication

Acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucosamine, analgesics, or cortisone injections improve pain and swelling.

Physical therapy

We may suggest rehab to help strengthen the muscles surrounding your joints and improve mobility.

Lifestyle alterations

Losing weight and exercising may help tame OA symptoms and degeneration.

Surgery

We offer a variety of surgical treatments to lessen your pain and degenerative symptoms, including: 

• Joint reconstruction
• Arthroplasty (replacing damaged joints with artificial ones)
• Fusing bones on each side of the joint together
• Osteotomy (realigning bones to lessen cartilage-related wear and tear)
• Cartilage restoration to repair and/or regenerate damaged cartilage

Dr. Mileski also employs such state-of-the-art techniques as biocartilage to repair your cartilage via processed human cartilage tissue.

5 signs your OA is progressing

OA is categorized into four stages, from early (Stage 1) to severe (Stage 4). Dr. Mileski detects progression via various criteria, such as:

1. Worsening pain

As the protective cartilage in your joint wears away, pain and stiffness often ensue. The area may also swell as blood vessels dilate. This usually worsens over time, leading to mobility issues and ongoing pain.

2.  Muscle weakness

You begin to experience weakness in the muscles surrounding problem joints. This makes it more difficult to use certain areas, such as your legs when hamstring muscles weaken. It eventually leads to further damage and inflammation.  

3. Deformed joints

Your joints appear misshapen. Approximately half of all women and one-quarter of all men experience osteoarthritis (OA) in their hands by age 85. The protective cartilage at the tips of your bones degenerate, causing bones to rub together.

4. Cracking sounds

As your cartilage continues to wear down, you may notice a popping sound, known as crepitus, when you move these joints. This may occur in your knee, neck, shoulder, hip, and spine when bones grind together.

5. Daily activities grow more difficult

You may begin to notice certain actions, such as getting in and out of a chair, climbing stairs, walking even short distances, and gripping a pencil or coffee cup, cause pain.

If you suspect worsening OA, contact Dr. Mileski to discuss possible treatments to slow its progression.

Ease your pain

While OA is common after age 45, it can be managed. If you’re experiencing joint pain, or wish to discuss other orthopedic matters, schedule a consultation online or by phone with Dr. Mileski at Phoenix Orthopedic Group today.