Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, progressive, degenerative joint process where the articular cartilage layer on the ends of bones at the joints deteriorates, and the bone plate gets thicker and more sclerotic. Additionally, this affects the joint’s protective mechanisms including ligaments and muscle. OA is manifested as a monoarticular or polyarticular phenomenon and is often asymmetric. It can occasionally appear as a more generalized disease. OA usually begins asymptomatically when the patient is in their twenties and thirties. By the time the patient reaches their forties, they start to experience people some level of pathologic change on articular weight-bearing surfaces, and may also start to experience symptoms. This is typically
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The patient may also voice that they can feel a grinding in their joints, as well as swelling, deformity, and loss of motion. As time and the disease progresses, OA can result in physical disability for the patient that can have an immense impact on their quality of life. Joints of the hands and fingers, feet and toes, as well as the spine, hips and knees are the most common areas affect by OA (Buttaro et al., …show more content…
Laboratory tests are utilized in order to monitor the patient on a regular basis for worsening symptoms, and can include a complete blood count, BUN, creatinine, liver and renal panel, and urinalysis. There are some tests that can give clues to a more definitive diagnosis of RA, and consists of tests such as antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, and erythrosedimentation rate. These particular tests can also be ordered routinely to monitor the patient’s systemic inflammation. X-ray studies of affected joints can also help with the diagnosis as well as establish a baseline to determine if treatment is effective. Currently, bone marrow edema is the trademark sign of early RA, and can be identified with an MRI. Synovial aspiration of the affected joint is also diagnostic for RA as the fluid will have decreased viscosity and elevated white blood cell count (Buttaro, et al.,
The patient may also voice that they can feel a grinding in their joints, as well as swelling, deformity, and loss of motion. As time and the disease progresses, OA can result in physical disability for the patient that can have an immense impact on their quality of life. Joints of the hands and fingers, feet and toes, as well as the spine, hips and knees are the most common areas affect by OA (Buttaro et al., …show more content…
Laboratory tests are utilized in order to monitor the patient on a regular basis for worsening symptoms, and can include a complete blood count, BUN, creatinine, liver and renal panel, and urinalysis. There are some tests that can give clues to a more definitive diagnosis of RA, and consists of tests such as antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, and erythrosedimentation rate. These particular tests can also be ordered routinely to monitor the patient’s systemic inflammation. X-ray studies of affected joints can also help with the diagnosis as well as establish a baseline to determine if treatment is effective. Currently, bone marrow edema is the trademark sign of early RA, and can be identified with an MRI. Synovial aspiration of the affected joint is also diagnostic for RA as the fluid will have decreased viscosity and elevated white blood cell count (Buttaro, et al.,