What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a serious chronic disease that affects an estimated 51.9 million U.S. adults and 527.8 million adults globally. Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent joint disease and a leading source of chronic pain and disability in the United States. While often considered a disease of old age, an estimated 11.6 million U.S. adults suffering with osteoarthritis are of working age (20-64 years). Osteoarthritis may affect the knees, hips, hands, spine, or feet; current estimates indicate that there are 24.7 million, (1 in 10 U.S. adults), with knee osteoarthritis.

Those who live with osteoarthritis experience pain, stiffness, and swelling, which limits their function and mobility; these symptoms often impact osteoarthritis suffers in their daily lives. People living with osteoarthritis may experience a variety of symptoms; for some, pain is mild and occurs occasionally, while for others pain is severe and chronic. Regardless of where patients are in their osteoarthritis progression, their lives are impacted when everyday activities like walking a few blocks or going up and down stairs cause too much pain. In addition, many people with osteoarthritis are also diagnosed with other chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity; these comorbidities add to the burden that osteoarthritis sufferers manage.

While osteoarthritis is frequently described as a “wear and tear” disease, we understand it now as a disease of the whole joint, involving the cartilage, joint lining, ligaments, and bone. Characteristics of the disease include: degradation of tendons, ligaments and cartilage (the cushioning tissue between joints), bony changes of the joints, and inflammation of the joint lining (called the synovium).

The good news Dr. Cooper at The Knee Center provides a variety of treatment options to aid in the pain caused by osteoarthritis. Explore our Treatment Options for more information.