ICD-10 · M19.9
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is wear-related degeneration of joint cartilage, most often in the knees, hips and hands. Knee osteoarthritis is especially common in India because of floor sitting, squatting and stair use, and it often starts in the fifties.
Symptoms
Joint pain that worsens with activity and eases with rest, morning stiffness lasting under 30 minutes, grating or crackling on movement, swelling, reduced range of motion, and difficulty climbing stairs or rising from the floor.
Causes & risk factors
Ageing, obesity, previous joint injury, repetitive kneeling or squatting, occupational strain, genetic factors, and muscle weakness around the joint. Vitamin D deficiency, widespread in India, worsens symptoms.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is clinical, supported by X-rays showing joint space narrowing, osteophytes and subchondral sclerosis. Blood tests are used mainly to exclude rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Treatment options
Weight loss and quadriceps-strengthening exercise are the most effective treatments and reduce pain more reliably than any tablet. Paracetamol and topical NSAID gels such as diclofenac are first-line; oral NSAIDs are used in short courses because of stomach and kidney risk. Intra-articular steroid or hyaluronic acid injections help selected patients. Knee replacement is considered when pain limits daily life despite full non-surgical treatment.
When to see a doctor
Joint that is hot, red and severely swollen, sudden inability to bear weight, locking of the joint, night pain, or stomach pain and black stools while taking painkillers.