Is Your Joint Pain Normal Aging or Osteoarthritis?

Key Takeaways:

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint condition caused by cartilage breakdown, leading to bone-on-bone friction that produces pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced range of motion. It most commonly affects the knees, hips, lower back, hands, ankles and neck. Unlike general age-related joint soreness — which tends to be short-lived and triggered by overuse — OA pain is consistent, often worst after inactivity or upon waking, and may be accompanied by a creaking or grinding sensation in the joint. OA has no cure, but it is manageable through a range of treatments including lifestyle changes, physical therapy, NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections and assistive devices, with joint replacement surgery reserved for cases where conservative treatments fail.

Joint pain is a common issue impacting people as they get older, with over 50% of individuals over the age of 65 experiencing some degree of joint pain. In some instances, this joint pain may be a normal consequence of aging, since your body loses bone density and muscle mass over time. But joint pain can also be caused by osteoarthritis. Understanding whether your joint pain is due to normal aging or osteoarthritis will determine the appropriate treatment to alleviate your symptoms.

What Is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that develops when the cartilage in your joints wears down. Once you’ve lost enough cartilage, the bones in your joints will begin to rub together, causing pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced joint mobility.

While there are many potential causes of osteoarthritis, the condition usually develops due to repetitive joint stress, or trauma to the joint from an accident or a sports injury. The condition can impact just about any joint in your body, with it most commonly developing in the:

• Knees
• Hips
• Lower back
• Hands
• Ankles
• Neck

Common Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is typically associated with the following symptoms:

• Joint Pain – The main symptom associated with osteoarthritis is joint pain, often accompanied by tenderness on or near the joint.
• Swelling – When you have osteoarthritis, your joint can become inflamed and irritated due to the bones of the joint rubbing against one another. Your body will produce fluid to combat the irritation in your joint, which can cause swelling to develop.
• Joint Stiffness – Joint stiffness from osteoarthritis typically occurs in the morning after waking up and following extended periods of being sedentary. In most instances, the stiffness will subside after you start moving.
• Reduced Range of Motion – It’s common to experience reduced mobility in your joint when you have osteoarthritis. You may find that you’re unable to bend the joint very far or certain joint movements have become more challenging and painful.

Signs Your Joint Pain May Be Due to Normal Aging

Age-related joint pain typically feels more like general soreness or stiffness. It often occurs after overuse, such as when you engage in strenuous exercise, and you’re less likely to experience persistent swelling, warmth or reduced mobility. Age-related joint pain will also generally subside with rest.

Signs Your Joint Pain May Be Due to Osteoarthritis

The following signs may indicate that your joint pain is more likely being caused by osteoarthritis than normal aging:

• Only One Joint Is Painful – Osteoarthritis typically only affects one joint. Multiple joints experiencing pain may indicate that the cause is either normal aging or another underlying condition.
• Your Joint Pain Subsides with Movement – Osteoarthritis pain is most commonly experienced when you first wake up or after periods of inactivity, and it will often subside once you begin moving more.
• You Hear a Creaking or Grinding Noise – The degeneration of cartilage caused by osteoarthritis will often result in a creaking noise or a feeling like your joint is grinding.
• Your Joint Pain Is Consistent – Joint pain from aging is generally short-lived and triggered by overuse during specific activities. When your joint pain consistently occurs at common times and during common situations each day, it’s generally a sign that it may be caused by osteoarthritis.

Dr. Kevin Borchard, orthopedic surgeon with Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, notes that hip arthritis can sometimes present in unexpected ways. “Hip osteoarthritis often gets mistaken for lower back pain, since the pain can radiate. If it’s centered in the groin or front of the thigh, that’s usually a sign to have the hip looked at specifically.”

For knee arthritis, Dr. Josh Mares says the pattern of pain can offer an important clue. “With the knee, one of the clearest signs it’s arthritis rather than general soreness is if you feel it every time you take the first few steps after sitting for a while.”

Common Treatments for Arthritis-Related Joint Pain

While there’s no cure for osteoarthritis, there are steps you can take to manage the pain and improve your quality of life. Depending on your specific situation, your osteoarthritis treatment plan may include:

• Lifestyle adjustments such as losing weight or exercising more regularly
• Physical therapy
• Over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications such as NSAIDs
• Corticosteroid injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Orthotics, braces and other assistive devices

If these minimally invasive treatments aren’t providing relief from your joint pain, joint replacement surgery may be recommended to improve your quality of life.

Colorado Advanced Orthopedics Can Help

If you’re experiencing joint pain from osteoarthritis, Colorado Advanced Orthopedics can help alleviate your pain and improve your quality of life. Our team includes some of the most accomplished board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons on the Western Slope. Our surgeons regularly treat osteoarthritis and will pursue minimally invasive treatment options before recommending surgery.

If joint replacement surgery is needed, you’ll benefit from our proven track record of success. Our surgeons regularly achieve knee replacement and hip replacement outcomes that exceed industry standards. Our exceptional surgical outcomes have been recognized with placement on the Healthgrades list of Top 100 Hospitals in the Country for Joint Replacement.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker, the White River Valley, Grand Junction and throughout the Western Slope.