The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain.
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and sometimes stiffness in the affected joints. The pain tends to be worse when you move the joint or at the end of the day. Your joints may feel stiff after rest, but this usually wears off fairly quickly once you get moving. Symptoms may vary for no obvious reason.
Medicines that can help with flares include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), either prescription or over-the-counter. You may take them as a pill or put them on your skin. Acetaminophen helps some people. Your doctor may also inject steroids into your joints.
"Unfortunately, it's still not completely clear what triggers osteoarthritis to flare up, although we suspect that a primary contributor is overuse of the affected joint, either due to repetitive action or prolonged activity without sufficient rest."
The Arthritis Foundation says exercise is “the most effective, non-drug treatment for reducing pain and improving movement in patients with osteoarthritis.” The best types of exercise for osteoarthritis use slight resistance, improve flexibility, offer an aerobic element, and are low impact.
If you have osteoarthritis of the knee, you will probably feel your knee is painful and stiff at times. It may only affect one knee, especially if you've injured it in the past, or you could have it in both. The pain may feel worse at the end of the day, or when you move your knee, and it may improve when you rest.
Many people who have arthritis or a related disease may be living with chronic pain. Pain is chronic when it lasts three to six months or longer, but arthritis pain can last a lifetime. It may be constant, or it may come and go.
Exercise is one of the most important treatments for people with osteoarthritis, whatever your age or level of fitness. Your physical activity should include a combination of exercises to strengthen your muscles and exercises to improve your general fitness.
Bananas and Plantains are high in magnesium and potassium that can increase bone density. Magnesium may also alleviate arthritis symptoms.
On physical exam, the affected joint(s) may appear normal; however, tenderness, pain or mild swelling could be present. Joints with OA are not usually appreciably warm, red, or largely swollen; however, swelling and tenderness may occur. Crepitus, a crackling or grinding within a joint, may be palpable.
What is considered severe osteoarthritis? In severe or advanced osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the joints has worn away. This causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty performing everyday tasks. With osteoarthritis, pain and stiffness is common first thing in the day and typically lessen after a while.
How quickly does OA progress? Experts confirm that once OA starts, it may take years to reach a severe stage. However, in extreme cases, OA progresses rapidly to complete the destruction of the cartilage within a few months.
If you are experiencing an arthritis flare-up, it can be helpful to take a break for a day or two while you focus on reducing pain and inflammation. In the meantime, focus on rest, ice or heat therapy, and anti-inflammatory pain medications. But after you're feeling better, you should get up and get moving again.
SYMPTOMS: Patients with early disease experience localized joint pain that worsens with activity and is relieved by rest, while those with severe disease may have pain at rest. Weight bearing joints may “lock” or “give way” due to internal derangement that is a consequence of advanced disease.
Walking is recommended for people with arthritis as it's low impact, helps to keep the joints flexible, helps bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. If you do experience pain or you're very stiff afterwards try doing a bit less, factor in more rest and check in with your GP, if you need to.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling.
Untreated, osteoarthritis can lead to bone loss, bone spurs, and damage to surrounding ligaments and other soft tissues.
Some research has shown that people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may benefit from magnesium in their diet or as a supplement. Since arthritis can cause inflammation, magnesium's anti-inflammatory effects might help some people with the condition.
Over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can help relieve occasional pain triggered by activity your muscles and joints aren't used to — such as gardening after a winter indoors.
You might feel a grating sensation when you use the joint, and you might hear popping or crackling. Bone spurs. These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, can form around the affected joint. Swelling.