Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis. In fact, more than three million Canadians have osteoarthritis.
In osteoarthritis the cartilage (the tough elastic material that covers and protects the ends of bones) begins to deteriorate and wear away. Cartilage has two important functions. The first is to absorb shock, like a shock absorber on a car, and the second is to allow the joint to move smoothly. When the cartilage gets worn away, it can no longer function properly and results in pain, stiffness, swelling and bone rubbing on bone in the affected joint.
In the early stages of OA, people may find that their joints are stiff or sore when they first wake up. The stiffness usually only lasts for about 15-20 minutes, but as they day goes on, they may find that the pain and discomfort increases. Other symptoms are pain, warmth and swelling in the affected joints. If left untreated, the pain and stiffness may discourage people with OA from using the affected joint which can weaken the muscles surrounding the joint.
Overtime, the cartilage continues to wear and the joints may become larger as the body tries to repair the damage by laying down new bone. If the cartilage wears done completely (severe OA), the bones may rub together, causing more pain.