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What you should know about osteoarthritis
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Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, occurs when the cartilage that covers the end of joints breaks down. This loss of cartilage results in pain, swelling and trouble moving affected joints.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting over 25 million Americans.
It can affect any joint, but the disease occurs most frequently in the knees, hips, lower back and neck.
What are the risk factors for osteoarthritis?
The likelihood of developing osteoarthritis increases with age and is more common in people with a family history of the disease.
Other factors, like obesity, may increase the probability of developing the disease. Individuals who have a joint abnormality – such as legs that are not the same length – or who have had a joint injury in the past are also more likely to develop this disease.
How is osteoarthritis treated?
Because there is no cure for osteoarthritis, the goal of pharmacologic therapy is to control pain. Over-the-counter medications include analgesics and NSAIDS. Injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid are also used to manage pain.
Duloxetine (Cymbalta, Eli Lilly), which was approved by the FDA for fibromyalgia and certain mental health problems, also received approved for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, including pain from osteoarthritis.
Severe cases of osteoarthritis may require surgery to repair or replace damaged joints.
Lifestyle changes
Other non-pharmacologic strategies can improve quality of life for patients with osteoarthritis. Low-impact exercise, such as yoga, stretching, walking and swimming, can decrease pain and help patients lose weight, which helps relieve the stress placed on affected joints and increases mobility.
References:
American College of Rheumatology. Osteoarthritis. Available at: https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Osteoarthritis. Accessed August 14, 2017.
Arthritis Foundation. What is osteoarthritis? Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/osteoarthritis/what-is-osteoarthritis.php. Accessed August 14, 2017.
CDC. Osteoarthritis fact sheet. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm. Accessed August 14, 2017.
FDA. NDA approval. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/appletter/2010/022516s000ltr.pdf. Accessed August 14, 2017.
Eli Lilly. FDA approves Cymbalta for the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Available at: https://investor.lilly.com/releasedetail2.cfm?releaseid=527460. Accessed August 14, 2017.
Mayo Clinic. Osteoarthritis. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/home/ovc-20198248. Accessed August 14, 2017.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Handout on health: Osteoarthritis. Available at: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/osteoarthritis/. Accessed August 14, 2017.