FAQs

Hard repetitive physical activity may injure joints leading to osteoarthritis in later life. This explains why osteoarthritis is more common in people in some physically demanding jobs, such as professional sportspeople.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is estimated that 305,000 New Zealanders live with OA.

A multi-disciplinary approach is needed in management of OA. It includes getting the best advice on medications such as painkillers, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroid injections into the joint.

Heat and cold: Heat promotes blood circulation and may reduce pain and stiffness in an arthritic area. Having a hot shower in the morning may help you get ready for the day ahead. Do not apply heat to an inflamed joint. If your joint is inflamed the application of a cold pack can help reduce pain by constricting the blood flow in that area.

Joint protection: It is important to keep up good posture, an occupational therapist can help with introduction of aids, splints, braces and assistive devices to decrease weight on the damaged joint.

Physiotherapy and exercise: A properly designed exercise programme by your physiotherapist will not only reduce pain but also increase your flexibility and overall fitness.

Surgery: If damage to a joint is extensive, surgery to replace or repair the joint may be used. Artificial joints can last 10-20 years before they need to be replaced. This is why joint replacement surgery is delayed until it is clearly necessary.

Complementary therapies: acupuncture, osteopathy and massage can be beneficial in decreasing pain and stiffness. Supplements such as fish oil, Capsaicin gel, Chondroitin, green-lipped mussel demonstrated some benefits for helping with pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis.

When you live with arthritis, it can be easy to get discouraged about taking up exercise, particularly if your arthritis is severe. However studies show that regular and appropriate physical activity help improve pain tolerance, mood and quality of life for people with arthritis.

Research shows that exercise and stretching are vital for people with arthritis and while medication is an important part of self-management and can provide significant relief for some people, keeping moving is crucial to feeling better.

OA occurs as a result of mechanical breakdown in the structures affecting the joints.

In healthy joints, cartilage – a shiny gristly material –acts as a shock absorber and provides a smooth surface between the bones to allow easy movement. When a joint develops osteoarthritis the cartilage thins and becomes rough. In some cases the cartilage breaks down, leaving the bones unprotected.

As a result the joint loses its ability to move smoothly. The bones lose shape and thicken at the end, producing bony spurs. Pieces of cartilage may break off and float around in the joint. This can disturb other soft tissue in the joint, causing pain and swelling.

Osteoarthritis progresses slowly and develops over many years. In most cases there are only small changes that affect parts of the joint. However sometimes osteoarthritis can be more severe and extensive.

Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are many ways in which you can relieve your symptoms and reduce the likelihood of things progressing. Your health team is there to guide you, but it is important that you get to know about osteoarthritis and its treatment so that you can take the lead in looking after yourself and your osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis of the fingers and hands often runs in families, particularly in women. However in osteoarthritis of the hips and knees heredity plays a smaller, yet still significant role.

Although there is some evidence to suggest that genetics play a role in the development of osteoarthritis, it is not a foregone conclusion that you’ll develop OA.

If there is a history of OA in your family, talk to your GP and start taking steps to help protect your joints and manage your risk of arthritis, including managing your diet, take up an appropriate physical activity and educate yourself on the effects and options of medications.

If you are experiencing symptoms of osteoarthritis, see your general practitioner. Once you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis, depending on the severity, you may need to see a specialist, such as a rheumatologist, orthopaedic surgeon and/or a physiotherapist.

Osteoarthritis progresses slowly and develops over many years. In most cases there are only small changes that affect parts of the joint. However sometimes osteoarthritis can be more severe and extensive.

It is usually diagnosed by symptoms and a physical examination. Therefore it is very important for you to be able to describe the pain in detail including where the pain occurs and when. When your joints are examined, your doctor will be able to feel the bony swelling and creaking of the joint and see any restricted movement.