Information for Osteoarthritis Sufferers

What is Osteoarthritis?

The simplest way to describe osteoarthritis is that it is wear and tear on the cartilage of your joints.

• Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that afflicts men and women equally. It affects nearly 21 million people in the United States alone!
• Osteoarthritis results from the loss of smooth cartilage that covers and protects the end of the bones. This wearing down results in some inflammation in the joint and causes the bones in the joint to grind together.

Cartilage is a substance that connects things together. Joint cartilage is basically a cushion (acts as a shock absorber) that separates the bones of the joints to prevent them from rubbing together.

• Though osteoarthritis can affect any joint, it generally attacks hands, feet, spine, hips, and knees.
• There is primary and secondary osteoarthritis. The symptoms are the same, but the causes are different.

Primary osteoarthritis (most common) is related to aging and the natural degeneration of cartilage in the joints.

Secondary osteoarthritis is caused by diseases or injuries (see below).

Do I have Osteoarthritis?

If you experience persistent pain, inflammation/swelling, and stiffness in any of your joints for more than 2 weeks, you may have osteoarthritis. However, it is critical that you are properly diagnosed by a medical professional. Go see your doctor!

Pseudo-arthrosis is a condition that gets confused with osteoarthritis (similar pain sensations). But, Pseudo-arthrosis is caused by a fracture in the joint. The two can be told apart by having an x-ray at your doctor’s office or hospital.

How is it diagnosed?

Your doctor will want to make sure your pain is caused by arthritis and not another problem. So first, you will need to describe your symptoms as best you can. And, if your doctor suspects osteoarthritis, or at least some form of arthritis, an X-ray will likely be the next step. X-rays of the affected joints can provide the doctor with a clear picture of your condition.

The common x-ray findings of osteoarthritis include loss of joint cartilage, narrowing of the joint space between adjacent bones, and bone spur formation. Simple x-ray testing can be very helpful to exclude other causes of pain in a particular joint.

Once you've been diagnosed, you can begin exploring your treatment and disease management options. Stay positive and hopeful - there are lots of things you can do to control your condition and manage your pain!

How did I get it?

Osteoarthritis is a slow, progressive disease. These are some factors that play a role in its development:

• Age-related degeneration of cartilage
• Poor posture - hunched over, while using a computer, playing a piano, or sitting at a desk for prolonged periods
• Other diseases, such as congenital disorders, inflammatory diseases, joint infection, Wilson’s Disease, hormonal disorders, alkaptonuria (black urine disease), Hemochromatosis, osteopetrosis
• Injury (sports or otherwise)
• Obesity - added weight equals added stress on the joints
• Pregnancy – added weight equals added stress on the joints
• Inactivity - weakens the muscles surrounding the joints
• Hereditary/Genetic - if your parents have it, you may get it too

Do you have more questions?

We encourage you to contact our office directly with any questions you may have regarding joint pain. We will do our best to answer your questions in a thorough and courteous manner.

Feel free to email us at service@mendmeshop.com. Emails will be answered promptly between 9am and 5pm (Eastern Standard Time) on weekdays.

Alternatively, for those located within the US or Canada, you may contact us on our toll free number 1-866-237-9608. If you live outside of these countries, call our local number at 705 445 3505

Our Office Hours

Monday to Thursday 8:00am to 9:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Saturday 12:00pm to 5:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Sunday 12:00pm to 9:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)

We wish great you a great day and we look forward to hearing from you.

Please contact us for more information. Will this product be able to control my pain and inflammation? There is a great possibility it can. All you need to do is call or email.