Osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis occurs in almost all people over the age of sixty years, although not all display symptoms. The disease usually involves weight-bearing joints, causing cartilage destruction, hardening of cartilage, formation of bone spurs, and deformity.

Primary osteoarthritis occurs from the normal wear-and-tear of joints at about 50-60 years of age, while secondary osteoarthritis results from a predisposing factor. Such factors could include congenital abnormalities, trauma, crystal deposition, and previous joint diseases (like rheumatoid Arthritis or Gout).

In the early stages, osteoarthritis sufferers may have morning joint stiffness. This will eventually develop into Pain on motion of the involved joint in the later stages.