Learn about arthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis, affecting about 15% of Canadians over the age of 20.  Osteoarthritis can affect any joint but is most common in the knees. It is also seen in other joints, like the hips, spine, hands, feet and shoulders.

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease involving the gradual breakdown of cartilage on the ends of the bones. Other joint structures, such as the underlying bone, joint capsule, ligaments and surrounding muscles, are also affected. All of these changes lead to symptoms of osteoarthritis, such as joint pain and stiffness.

The exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, but its development is influenced by risk factors like older age, obesity, joint injury or overuse, genetics, and other arthritis conditions.

Stages of the disease

People in the early stage of osteoarthritis may feel a slight ache in their joints with certain activities, such as climbing stairs or getting up and down from a chair. In more advanced stages, people may feel pain while resting or putting weight or stress on the joint. When joint pain and reduced function is making daily activities difficult, joint replacement surgery is sometimes helpful.

Not all people will progress to the advanced stage of osteoarthritis, and not all will have surgery.

Inflammatory arthritis is a group of conditions where in most cases, the body’s immune system begins to attack the structures of the joint. Sometimes inflammation is caused by other factors such as an infection or crystal buildup in joints (gout). The most common forms of inflammatory arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and gout. Some types of inflammatory arthritis can affect not only joints, but also the skin, eyes, blood vessels and internal organs. A rheumatologist (a physician specializing in arthritis) is usually involved in the care of inflammatory arthritis. Medications are important for controlling inflammation and minimizing disease activity to help prevent joint damage.

Some common symptoms of arthritis include:

• Pain in your joints during or after activity
• Joint stiffness, or a loss of flexibility in your joints
• Increased pain, swelling and redness of the joint.
• For inflammatory arthritis, multiple joints may become inflamed and pain may be worse with rest. Other full-body symptoms, such as fatigue, are common. 

The majority of people with joint pain have osteoarthritis. If your doctor is concerned about inflammatory arthritis, they may do additional testing. Talk to your doctor if you do not know what type of arthritis you have.

Although there is no cure for arthritis, there is a lot you can do to manage your condition effectively. Exercise, medication, modifying your activities, healthy eating and weight control, and pain management are important parts of arthritis management. Learn more about these strategies by taking an arthritis class, available in-person or by webinar.

Some people will need other treatments such as referral to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist, bracing and splints, and less commonly joint injections. Talk to your doctor about these options. 

Surgery  is considered when conservative strategies are not enough to control your symptoms. Hip or knee replacement is the most common type of surgery. Some people also benefit from surgery to repair tendons, remove inflamed tissue or even fuse joints to relieve pain and maintain function.