Denver Arthritis Center offers referred infusion care for new patients | Learn More
Living with osteoarthritis means dealing with pain that affects your ability to do the things you love. You might struggle to climb stairs because of knee pain, find it difficult to open jars due to hand arthritis, or wake up with stiffness that takes hours to improve. Simple activities like gardening, playing with grandchildren, or even walking through the grocery store can become painful challenges.
As the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis affects millions of people, causing the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones to wear down over time. Unlike inflammatory types of arthritis that come from immune system problems, osteoarthritis develops from the natural wear and tear on your joints, though injuries, genetics, and other factors can accelerate the process. The good news is that with proper diagnosis and treatment, many people with osteoarthritis can significantly reduce their pain and maintain an active lifestyle.
Denver Arthritis Clinic has been helping patients manage osteoarthritis since 1976, providing comprehensive care that goes beyond simply prescribing pain medication. Our board-certified rheumatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of osteoarthritis, from knee and hip arthritis to hand and spine involvement. We understand that every patient's osteoarthritis is different, and we take a personalized approach that may include medication management, joint injections, physical therapy recommendations, and lifestyle modifications tailored to your specific needs. Whether you're dealing with early-stage arthritis or more advanced joint damage, our experienced team offers the full range of treatment options to help you find relief and improve your function.
Don't let osteoarthritis keep you from the activities you enjoy. Schedule an appointment with Denver Arthritis Clinic to meet with an osteoarthritis specialist who will thoroughly evaluate your condition and develop a treatment plan designed to reduce your pain and improve your quality of life.
Osteoarthritis (OA), sometimes called degenerative joint disease or "wear and tear" arthritis, occurs when the cartilage that cushions your joints gradually breaks down. Cartilage is a firm, slippery tissue that allows bones to glide smoothly over each other and absorbs the shock of movement. When this cartilage deteriorates, bones begin to rub against each other, causing pain, swelling, and loss of joint movement. Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape, and bone spurs may develop along the edges of the joint. Understanding what causes osteoarthritis and recognizing its symptoms early can help you get the treatment you need to slow its progression and maintain your mobility.
While osteoarthritis is often thought of as simply the result of aging, the reality is more complex. Age is certainly a significant risk factor, as the wear and tear on joints accumulates over decades, making osteoarthritis more common in people over 50. However, many other factors contribute to its development.
Previous joint injuries significantly increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis in the affected joint. If you've had a torn meniscus, ligament damage, or a fracture near a joint, you're more likely to develop arthritis in that area years later, even if the injury healed well. Athletes who participate in high-impact sports or people whose jobs involve repetitive joint stress are at higher risk. This includes activities that involve repeated kneeling, squatting, heavy lifting, or repetitive hand movements.
Excess body weight places additional stress on weight-bearing joints, particularly the knees and hips. For every pound of body weight, your knees experience about four pounds of pressure during normal walking. This means that even modest weight loss can significantly reduce the load on your joints. Additionally, fat tissue produces proteins that can cause harmful inflammation in and around your joints.
Genetics play a role in osteoarthritis development. If your parents or siblings have osteoarthritis, you're more likely to develop it yourself. Some people inherit abnormalities in the shape of their bones or in their cartilage composition that make them more susceptible to joint breakdown. Gender also matters; women are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis, especially after menopause, suggesting that hormonal factors may be involved.
Certain metabolic diseases increase osteoarthritis risk, including diabetes and hemochromatosis (a condition that causes iron buildup in the body). Some types of inflammatory arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis or gout, can damage joints in ways that lead to secondary osteoarthritis. Joint abnormalities present at birth, such as malformed joints or defective cartilage, can accelerate wear and tear.
Osteoarthritis symptoms typically develop gradually and worsen over time. Pain is usually the first symptom people notice, though it may start as a mild ache and progress to more constant discomfort. The pain typically worsens during or after movement and may improve with rest, though in advanced cases, pain can occur even at rest or during sleep. Weather changes, particularly cold and damp conditions, often increase symptoms for many patients.
Joint stiffness is most noticeable when you first wake up in the morning or after periods of inactivity. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, where morning stiffness can last hours, osteoarthritis stiffness typically improves within 30 minutes of moving around. You might feel like your joints are "rusty" first thing in the morning, but loosen up as you start your day.
Loss of flexibility is another hallmark symptom. You may notice you can't move a joint through its full range of motion as easily as you once could. This might show up as difficulty fully bending your knee, reaching overhead, or making a tight fist. Swelling can occur around affected joints, caused by excess fluid production in response to cartilage breakdown. The joint may feel tender when you apply light pressure to or near it.
Many people with osteoarthritis notice a grating sensation or hear clicking or crackling sounds (called crepitus) when they use the affected joint. This happens when rough cartilage surfaces rub together. Bone spurs, which feel like hard lumps, may form around the affected joint. In the hands, these are sometimes called Heberden's nodes (at the fingertip joints) or Bouchard's nodes (at the middle joints).
Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine, though it can occur in any joint. Knee osteoarthritis is particularly common and can significantly impact mobility. You might notice pain when climbing stairs, getting up from chairs, or walking on uneven ground. The knee may feel unstable or give way, especially when going down stairs. Some people develop a visible deformity, with the knee appearing to bow inward or outward.
Hip osteoarthritis causes pain in the groin, though you might also feel it in your thigh or buttocks. Walking, standing for long periods, or getting in and out of cars can be particularly difficult. You may develop a limp or notice that your hip has less range of motion, making it hard to put on shoes or cut your toenails.
Hand osteoarthritis often affects the base of the thumb, the fingertip joints, and the middle finger joints. This can make tasks requiring fine motor skills difficult, such as writing, buttoning shirts, or opening jars. The fingers may appear knobby due to bone spur formation. Osteoarthritis in the spine typically affects the neck or lower back, causing pain and stiffness that may radiate into the arms or legs if bone spurs press on nerves.
At Denver Arthritis Clinic, we offer a range of treatment options tailored to your specific situation. The goals of osteoarthritis treatment are to reduce pain, improve function, slow disease progression when possible, and help you maintain your quality of life. Treatment plans typically combine several approaches for the best results.
Medications play an important role in managing osteoarthritis symptoms. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen can help with mild to moderate pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), available both over-the-counter and by prescription, reduce both pain and inflammation. These include ibuprofen and naproxen. For some patients, topical NSAIDs applied directly to the affected joint can provide relief with fewer side effects than oral medications. Duloxetine, an antidepressant medication, is also FDA-approved for chronic musculoskeletal pain, including osteoarthritis.
Joint injections [Joint Injections] offer targeted relief for many patients. Corticosteroid (cortisone) injections can provide significant pain relief by reducing inflammation in the joint. While these injections don't slow disease progression, they can offer relief lasting several weeks to months, allowing you to participate in physical therapy or other activities that might otherwise be too painful.
Viscosupplementation injections involve injecting hyaluronic acid into the knee joint. Hyaluronic acid is a component of normal joint fluid that acts as a lubricant and shock absorber. These injections may help improve knee function and reduce pain, particularly in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. The treatment typically involves a series of injections given over several weeks.
Assistive devices can help reduce stress on affected joints. Braces or splints may provide support and reduce pain. A cane or walker can take pressure off arthritic hips or knees. For hand arthritis, special tools with larger grips or jar openers can make daily tasks easier. Shoe inserts or special footwear may help with knee or hip arthritis by improving alignment.
While both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis cause joint pain and stiffness, they're very different conditions with different causes and treatments. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition caused by wear and tear on the cartilage cushioning your joints. It develops gradually over time, typically affecting people over 50, and usually impacts joints that bear weight or get a lot of use, like knees, hips, hands, and spine. The pain from osteoarthritis tends to worsen with activity and improve with rest.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks the lining of your joints, causing inflammation. It can develop at any age, even in children, and often affects multiple joints symmetrically (meaning if your right wrist is affected, your left wrist likely is too). Rheumatoid arthritis causes prolonged morning stiffness lasting an hour or more, and you may experience fatigue, fever, and other systemic symptoms. People with rheumatoid arthritis often feel better with movement after initial stiffness.
The distinction matters because treatments differ significantly. While osteoarthritis is managed primarily with pain medications, physical therapy, and joint injections , rheumatoid arthritis requires disease-modifying drugs to slow the immune system attack. A rheumatologist can determine which type of arthritis you have through examination,blood tests , and imaging studies, ensuring you receive appropriate treatment.
While you can't completely prevent osteoarthritis, especially if you have genetic risk factors, you can take steps to reduce your risk and delay its onset. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important preventive measures, as excess weight significantly increases stress on weight-bearing joints. Regular exercise helps by strengthening the muscles that support your joints, improving balance to prevent falls and injuries, and helping maintain a healthy weight. Choose low-impact activities like swimming, cycling, or walking rather than high-impact sports that stress your joints.
Protecting your joints from injury is crucial, as previous injuries significantly increase osteoarthritis risk. This means using proper techniques when lifting heavy objects, wearing appropriate protective equipment during sports, and avoiding repetitive motions that stress your joints when possible. If you do injure a joint, seek proper medical treatment and complete any recommended physical therapy to ensure full healing.
Ergonomic considerations matter too. If your job involves repetitive joint movements, take regular breaks and use ergonomic tools designed to reduce joint stress. Pay attention to your posture, as poor posture can place abnormal stress on your spine and other joints over time. Some supplements, particularly glucosamine and chondroitin, are popular for joint health, though research on their effectiveness is mixed. Discuss any supplements with your doctor before taking them.
Many people initially manage mild osteoarthritis with their primary care doctor, and this works well for some patients. However, you should consider seeing a rheumatologist if your pain isn't adequately controlled with over-the-counter medications and simple measures, if osteoarthritis is significantly impacting your daily activities or quality of life, if you're unsure whether you have osteoarthritis or another type of arthritis, if you need joint injections or more advanced treatment options, or if you're considering surgery and want to ensure you've tried all appropriate non-surgical options first.
A rheumatologist specializing in osteoarthritis can offer several advantages. We have extensive experience diagnosing different types of arthritis and can ensure you're receiving treatment for the right condition. We're skilled in performing joint injections and can determine if you're a good candidate for viscosupplementation or other advanced treatments. We can develop comprehensive treatment plans that address all aspects of your condition, from pain management to function improvement. We stay current on the latest research and treatment options for osteoarthritis.
At Denver Arthritis Clinic, we also work closely with physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, and other specialists to provide coordinated care. If you've been living with joint pain and aren't sure whether it's time to see a specialist, we encourage you to schedule a consultation. Early intervention can often help slow disease progression and improve your long-term outcomes.
Not everyone with osteoarthritis needs joint replacement surgery, and many people manage their symptoms successfully with conservative treatments for years or even decades. Whether you'll need surgery depends on several factors, including the severity of your arthritis, how well you respond to non-surgical treatments, your age and overall health, and how much the arthritis affects your quality of life.
Joint replacement is typically considered when you have severe pain that significantly limits your daily activities despite trying conservative treatments including medications, physical therapy, weight management, and joint injections , you have substantial loss of joint function that affects your ability to work or enjoy life, X-rays or other imaging shows severe joint damage, and you're healthy enough to undergo surgery and participate in the rehabilitation process.
It's important to know that surgery should never be the first treatment option for osteoarthritis. At Denver Arthritis Clinic, we always explore conservative treatment approaches first. Many patients find significant relief through combinations of medications, injections, and lifestyle modifications.