Osteoarthritis-27 Million Suffer Daily From Osteoarthritis In America

Osteoarthritis, What Exactly Is It, That 27 Million Suffer Daily From?

Osteoarthritis is one of the oldest and most common forms of arthritis. They have found Ice Men with Osteoarthritis and today, as many as 27 million Americans have Osteoarthritis, as you read this.

Names of Osteoarthritis:

• Degenerative Joint Disease
• Ostoarthrosis
• Hypertrophic Arthritis
• Degenerative Arthritis
• Wear-and-Tear Arthritis

Most commonly known as the “Wear-and-Tear Arthritis. This is a chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of the bones and allows easy movement of joints. What the breakdown of cartilage does is causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint.

Sort of like when you don’t put oil in your engine, the pistons will rub against each other, get hot and wear out.

That is also why your parents told you not to crack your knuckles, you will wear the cartilage, hyaluronan or goo away.

It is easy to see people who are affected with this disabling disease, as they will have trouble walking, sitting and getting up and doing simple things such as opening a bottle or can, walking, standing and many will limp. Movements become painful and severe.

Despite the longevity and frequency of the disease, medical science still does not completely known why nor does it have a cure. It is believed that some of the factors that play a role in Osteoarthritis is age, obesity, injury or overuse and genetics. One some or all of these factors could be the cause.

Here are the stages of Osteoarthritis:

• Cartilage loses elasticity and is more easily damaged by injury or use
• Wear of cartilage causes changes to underlying bone
• The bone thickens
• Cysts may occur under the cartilage
• Bony growths, called spurs or osteophytes, develop near the end of the bone at the affected joint
• Bits of bone or cartilage float loosely in the joint space
• The joint lining, or the synovium, becomes inflamed due to cartilage breakdown causing cytokines (inflammation proteins) and enzymes that damage cartilage further

Changes in the cartilage and bones of the joint can lead to pain, stiffness and cause limitations in your mobility.

Deterioration of cartilage can:

• Affect the shape and makeup of the joint so it doesn’t function smoothly
• Cause difficulty or trouble going up and down stairs
• Cause fragments of bone and cartilage to float in joint fluid causing irritation and pain
• Cause bony spurs, called osteophytes, to develop near the ends of bones

Basically all this means is that the joint fluid doesn’t have enough hyaluronan, somethings called goo or grease, which affects the joint’s ability to absorb shock.

So, you can see where this disease is a debilitating disease that can make every day life, a lesson in endurance.

Baby Boomers, Osteoarthritis is not just for humans, animals get it as well. Especially large dogs. One out five dogs will have it in their life time. That is 20%, a large percentage, for man’s best friend.

I have Lupus, which belongs to the Arthritis family. I was first diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in 1983.

If you have Lupus, be sure that you keep an eye out for signs of Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. Prevention isn’t a cure but it will help you in the long run.

~The Baby Boomer Queen~

If your Pet has Joint Pain & Arthritis I am sure that you would want to give your furry friend something that is completely natural and safe. Safe for Cats and Dogs, FlexPet.