Osteoarthritis in its primary stage has no directly identifiable cause but is often posited as one of those diseases associated with aging. Scientific research indicates that chances for osteoarthritis become higher as one ages. This is because as one ages, water accumulates in the joints thereby affecting cartilage protein structure.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include deep pain in the joints especially after heavy exercise or excessive movement. However, the pain can subside after ample rest. If you suffer from osteoarthritis, you may also experience stiffness in the joints during the morning and after doing heavy exercise.

Osteoarthritis symptoms differ from one case to another. One patient might be suffering from severe pain for days while others might experience it infrequently. Weather and the time of the day have also something to do with this. As the weather changes from time to time, a person will likewise experience the acute pain that can even last for weeks.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis: -

• Pain: Your joints may ache, or the pain may feel burning or sharp. For some people, the pain may come and go. Constant pain or pain while you sleep may be a sign that your arthritis is getting worse.
• Stiffness: When you have arthritis, getting up in the morning can be hard. Your joints may feel stiff and creaky for a short time, until you get moving. You may also get stiff from sitting.
• Muscle weakness: The muscles around the joint may get weaker. This happens a lot with arthritis in the knee.
• Swelling: Arthritis can cause swelling in joints, making them feel tender and sore.
• Deformed joints: Joints can start to look like they are the wrong shape, especially as arthritis gets worse.
• Reduced range of motion and loss of use of the joint: As your arthritis gets worse, you may not be able to fully bend, flex, or extend your joints. Or you may not be able to use them at all.

Causes of Osteoarthritis: -

Primary osteoarthritis is commonly linked to old age when the cartilage naturally breaks down due to wear and tear of the joint. Trauma to a joint such as in an accident it another primary cause. Physical conditions, such as congenital defects and obesity cause secondary osteoarthritis. Risk factors of osteoarthritis include:

• Overuse or injury to the joint in accidents and sports
• Trauma to a joint
• Dislocating a joint
• Genetic defects that affect the cartilage
• Diabetes, gout and other hormone disorders
• Poor posture
• Bow legs

It is not uncommon for people who have osteoarthritis to go years with out pain and than when the degeneration becomes apparent the pain develops. Osteoarthritis that develops in joints at the base of the big toe can lead to formation of bunion. Bunions are very common if you notice a bunion forming on your big toe you may want to see a doctor to get checked for osteoarthritis.

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