Activated osteoarthritis

What is activated osteoarthritis?

Activated osteoarthritis is the most severe form of osteoarthritis (joint wear). It occurs when a joint that is already affected by osteoarthritis is stressed too much or for too long. The typical signs of inflammation are pain, swelling, reddening and restricted mobility.
The pain associated with activated osteoarthritis is usually permanent, and not just under stress. Osteoarthritis is difficult to treat, but the activated inflammation can usually be "deactivated" and brought to rest. However, the more often a joint participates in activated osteoarthritis, the shorter the symptom-free intervals between activations.
The activated osteoarthritis is the opposite of the so-called resting osteoarthritis. Joint damage is also present in dormant osteoarthritis, but no acute signs of inflammation can be detected.

Causes of the emergence

The most common cause of acute osteoarthritis is exposure to an existing osteoarthritis.
In the case of osteoarthritis, the cartilage layer in a joint continues to break down as a result of overloading. The already existing osteoarthritis can sometimes only cause mild symptoms and therefore may not be recognized. When the articular cartilage is almost completely or even completely worn out, bone rubs against bone and the affected joint becomes inflamed and the osteoarthritis "activates" itself. The immediate trigger is often a heavy load on the affected joint. Osteoarthritis itself can have many different causes, please refer to our article on osteoarthritis.

You can recognize activated osteoarthritis by these symptoms:
Activated osteoarthritis shows typical signs of inflammation on the joint. Most patients notice the pain first, which is often only felt with the first movements during dormant osteoarthritis (so-called start-up pain).
In the case of activated osteoarthritis, the pain occurs at least during the entire exercise, often even when the patient is resting. In addition, there is swelling of the joint, which cannot always be seen with the naked eye, but can sometimes be felt. It is caused by the formation of inflammatory fluid in the joint.
Overheating of the joint can often be felt or felt. Reddening can also occur - a joint that is not visibly reddened, however, in no way excludes activated osteoarthritis.
The patient himself often finds stiffness and / or weakness of the joint or the adjacent muscles. There may also be grinding or cracking noises while the affected joint is moving.

In very severe cases, often untreated for years, deformation (deformation) of the joint.

Read more on the topic: Causes of Osteoarthritis

Diagnosis of activated osteoarthritis

The diagnosis of activated osteoarthritis can often be established by the doctor's examination, especially if osteoarthritis is already known to be a pre-existing condition.

Imaging can also be ordered by the doctor for further diagnostics.
The simplest examination, which can often be carried out immediately by the doctor on site, is sonography (ultrasound). This can be used to detect inflammatory fluid (effusion) in the joint.
The method of choice for assessing the cartilage is an MRI (magnetic resonance) scan. If the disease is advanced and could affect the bones, CT or simple x-rays may also be needed.

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In order to be able to treat successfully in orthopedics, a thorough examination, diagnosis and a medical history are required.
In our very economic world in particular, there is too little time to thoroughly grasp the complex diseases of orthopedics and thus initiate targeted treatment.
I don't want to join the ranks of "quick knife pullers".
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.

Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.

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For more information about myself, see Lumedis - Orthopedists.

Treatment of activated osteoarthritis

First of all, it is important that the joint is absolutely immobilized, i.e. not overly stressed.
Cooling - for example with cooling pads or cool compresses - can temporarily relieve the symptoms. The application of heat - for example from infrared lamps - can be used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, but should be stopped in the case of activated osteoarthritis, as this accelerates the inflammatory process.

Painkillers are usually given to treat the pain. Here, painkillers with anti-inflammatory components are often used, which also counteract the inflammation of the joint as the cause. Typical examples are ibuprofen or ASA (aspirin).
In severe cases, cortisone is even injected directly into the joint space.

Another invasive treatment option is the puncture of the excess fluid (drainage) in the joint. The so-called radiosynoviorthesis, in which slightly radioactive substances are injected into the joint space, is also a possibility, but should be carefully considered.

The effectiveness of ointments that are applied to the skin is controversial.

More information on the topic Treatment of osteoarthritis you'll find here.

Duration of activated osteoarthritis

The duration of activated osteoarthritis depends very much on the severity of the acute inflammation and the respective treatment. It usually takes up to two weeks for the joint effusion to go away on its own. Then the rest of the symptoms such as pain and swelling slowly go away.

However, the response of the therapy measures also differs from person to person, especially the condition of the affected joint is essential.
In the worst case, the activated osteoarthritis can become permanent (so-called chronification). As a rule, however, this is only the case after several attacks of activated osteoarthritis. In order to prevent this condition, targeted therapy should be sought as early as possible.

Since osteoarthritis itself cannot be cured, treatment must continue even after the activated osteoarthritis has ended.

forecast

The activated osteoarthritis can usually also be "deactivated" again. This means that the inflammation goes down and the joint recovers.

However, osteoarthritis itself cannot be cured and remains in the non-inflamed joint. So for every joint with the underlying disease osteoarthritis there is a risk of activated osteoarthritis recurring.
The more often activated osteoarthritis has already occurred in a joint, the higher the probability that activated osteoarthritis will recur again after an ever shorter period of time.

Prognosis for osteoarthritis in the knee joint

The knee is one of the most common joints affected by osteoarthritis.
Since the knee has to be used every day, activated osteoarthritis often occurs here. This often occurs as a result of stress such as long periods of standing, walking or, of course, after exercise.
In addition to pain, the overheating of the knee, which can be detected by the patient himself, is typical.

Since the knee joint is one of the most important joints in the body and surgery is difficult, the active phases of osteoarthritis should be kept short in order to avoid chronification. The more often activated osteoarthritis breaks out, the shorter the symptom-free phases in between.

Further information on the topic Osteoarthritis in the knee joint read here.

The prognosis for retropatellar osteoarthritis

The activated retropatellar osteoarthritis is located in the so-called femoropatellar joint between the kneecap and the thigh bone. Retropatellar means behind (retro) the kneecap (patella).

Damage to the cartilage on the back of the patella can be found in very many people without these symptoms. Due to this already existing osteoarthritis, activated osteoarthritis, which then becomes symptomatic, is all the more common.
Those affected feel pain particularly often when climbing stairs or going downhill.

Read more on the subject here Retropatellar osteoarthritis.

Prognosis for osteoarthritis of the hip joint

The hip joint is also one of the most common joints affected by osteoarthritis.

If the hip joint osteoarthritis is activated, no swelling or overheating can be detected due to the low position of the hip joint. However, there is severe pain, which typically radiates into the groin.
Here, too, the pain occurs depending on the severity of the disease during and after exercise or even at rest.

Further information on the topic Hip osteoarthritis you'll find here.

Prognosis for osteoarthritis in the ankles

Osteoarthritis can be felt in several places in the foot. On the one hand there is ankle arthrosis, on the other hand the so-called tarsal osteoarthritis.

Ankle arthrosis occurs most frequently in athletes, especially if they do not properly treat acute injuries to the ligaments in the ankle. Activated osteoarthritis of the ankle is usually manifested by pain when moving. A gentle posture when walking or rolling the foot is then typical.

Tarsus osteoarthritis, in turn, usually affects older people. Typically here is the so-called LisfrancJoint affected. Here, too, pain when rolling is typical, the patients then perceive the pain more intensely in the back of the foot. Sometimes a swelling on the back of the foot can be felt or even seen.

More on the subject here Ankle arthrosis Experienced.

Prognosis for osteoarthritis in the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe

Arthrosis in the metatarsophalangeal joint (so-called. Hallux rigidus) is associated with the typical symptoms of redness, swelling and pain when activated.
Another typical feature is an increased restriction of movement when stretching (Dorsiflexion) the big toe. This can affect the entire gait pattern in the event of severe pain: The foot can then no longer be rolled and under certain circumstances you may even limp.

Read more on the subject here Big toe joint arthrosis.

The prognosis for osteoarthritis of the finger joints

Typically, three joints are most commonly affected by finger osteoarthritis: the end joints of the fingers, the middle joints of the fingers and the saddle joint of the thumb.

When finger joint arthrosis is activated, the swelling is particularly pronounced due to the thin layer of skin. In addition, so-called Heberden nodules (nodular thickenings on the joints) appear in active phases. The fingers are often deformed over the long term (Deformations).
Pain occurs mainly in the morning and the clasp of the fist is also painful.

The restriction of movement is particularly pronounced with activated finger arthrosis. This is how the patient often describes the stiffness of the fingers.

Find out more about the topic here: What is finger osteoarthritis?

Prognosis for osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint

The osteoarthritis of the shoulder (so-called.Omarthrosis) occurs much less often than osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, but is no less painful for the affected patient.

Restrictions of movement and pain that cannot be specifically localized are typical. Often, however, movements in which the arm is spread outward or raised are particularly painful. Pressure on certain areas can also cause pain; this is particularly noticeable if the pain occurs at night in certain lying positions.

More information on the topic Osteoarthritis of the shoulder read here.

Prognosis for osteoarthritis of the AC joint

The AC joint (Acromioclavicular joint or also called the shoulder joint) can also be affected by osteoarthritis.

When osteoarthritis is activated, pain and increased mobility restrictions occur, similar to shoulder joint osteoarthritis. The pain also occurs when lifting the arm, in contrast to osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint, but especially when lifting to the opposite side. Here, too, pain can occur when lying in certain positions.
A swelling can be detected and sometimes felt by the patient himself.

More on the topic Arthrosis of the acromioclavicular joint you'll find here.