HYALGAN®
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Below is an x-ray image of a normal knee joint and an arthritic knee joint. The joint space narrowing clearly visable on the right image.
____________________________________________________________________
NORMAL KNEE ARTHRITIC KNEE
____________________________________________________________________
What causes Osteoarthritis?
Common known causes that may attribute to the onset of Osteoarthritis include:
- obesity/being overweight
- age
- acute trauma or injury to the affected joint
- "wear and tear" from day-to-day activity
- genetics
Many patients have some common complaints that indicate they may have Osteoarthritis. They include:
- pain in the affected joint
- "hot spots" in and/or around the affected joint
- inflammation
- stiffness
- a feeling of "grinding" within the affected joint (also known as crepitus)
The diagrams below should help you visualize the cause of some of these syptoms.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Is there a cure for Osteoarthritis?To date there is no actual cure for Osteoarthritis. There are a number of treatment options that your healthcare provider may suggest to help alleviate some of the discomfort you may be feeling. They include:
- physical therapy
- weight loss (if the cause is suspected to be weight related)
- exercise and/or stretching
- over the counter medications (NSAIDS, acetaminophen, etc.)
- a functional brace
- intra-articular injections (HYALGAN®) for the affected joint
____________________________________________________________________
