| The medical treatment of osteoarthritis initially involves | | | | developing osteoarthritis later in life. Osteoarthritis, |
| the use of simple analgesics and anti-inflammatory | | | | especially in the hips and fingers, also tends to run in |
| drugs. Recently a new category of anti-inflammatory | | | | families.The risk of developing arthritis of the hand |
| drugs (anticox2) has been recommended, because | | | | increases with age. In fact, by age 75, 85 percent of |
| they produce fewer gastric pains and stomach ulcers. | | | | the population have some symptom of the condition. |
| DescriptionOf the more than 100 types of arthritis, | | | | Often, bony knobs-also called nodes develop on the |
| osteoarthritis is the most common, afflicting 16 million | | | | knuckles, making fingers look gnarled. Nodes usually |
| Americans. In fact, osteoarthritis is said to be the most | | | | appear first on a single finger but can grow to involve |
| common-and, longest historically recognized-disorder | | | | all the fingers. While nodes can be tender or slightly |
| known to humankind.Osteoarthritis can affect any joint | | | | painful, they rarely cause any disability. Nearly 90 |
| of the body, but it most commonly occurs in the | | | | percent of people with nodes are women over age |
| fingers and weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, | | | | 45.Signs and SymptomsPain and tenderness in joints |
| ankles, and knees. The disease occurs when the | | | | (typically, joints in one to three sites are affected, and |
| cartilage, which covers the ends of the joints and acts | | | | the pain worsens after use and goes away with |
| as a cushion between bones, wears away, allowing | | | | rest)Discomfort in affected joint before or during a |
| the bones to rub against each other. For some people, | | | | change in the weatherSwelling in affected |
| this can be excruciatingly painful. On the other hand, | | | | jointsWeakness and loss of flexibility in affected jointsIf |
| many people with osteoarthritis experience no signs or | | | | the joints of the fingers are affected, bony knobs may |
| symptoms of the condition.Even though osteoarthritis is | | | | be visible at the knucklesConventional Medical |
| usually limited to a single location, the afflicted joint can | | | | TreatmentAn X-ray may be used to detect the |
| affect the entire body. Sometimes the muscles | | | | presence of osteoarthritis. However, there is no cure |
| surrounding the joint tighten in order to soften the pain | | | | for the ailment. Conventional treatment usually involves |
| or protect the affected joint, while unaffected joints | | | | exercises and physical therapy to keep the |
| are forced to work overtime to make up for the ailing | | | | surrounding muscles strong and flexible. Pain and |
| joint. In cases of osteoarthritis of the knee, the entire | | | | stiffness can be relieved by analgesics and |
| lower leg may eventually become deformed.Although | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, aspirin). Bed rest |
| the precise cause of osteoarthritis is not known, wear | | | | and immobilization of the affected joint may be |
| and tear appears to be the primary culprit. This is why | | | | needed for brief periods of time. When all other |
| osteoarthritis is also called wear-and-tear arthritis or | | | | measures fail to provide relief, surgical joint |
| degenerative joint disease. Thus, the college | | | | replacements (knee or hip) have very high success |
| quarterback and the professional typist both of whose | | | | rates. |
| joints are taxed daily-are at heightened risk of | | | | |