You've been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and now you're worried. Will it get worse? Will you lose your mobility? Perhaps you're afraid to move, fearing it might make things worse. These concerns are understandable, but the reality is often more encouraging than you might imagine.

• Osteoarthritis visible on imaging is often present without any pain
• Sudden pain is generally not caused by osteoarthritis; it develops over years
• Adapted physical activity improves osteoarthritis symptoms; it does not worsen them
• Pain associated with osteoarthritis can be very well managed with the right strategies

This guide helps you understand the true relationship between osteoarthritis and pain. To learn more about different forms of osteoarthritis, consult our guide on knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis doesn't appear overnight

Osteoarthritis is a condition that develops over a lifetime. So, if you experience sudden pain, it means your body has been stressed more than usual or is currently less resilient (due to stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, etc.). You certainly don't have more osteoarthritis today than you did yesterday before the pain started. Therefore, the cause of the pain is often not osteoarthritis itself.

In short: Pain ≠ Osteoarthritis

• A good balance of painful tasks, leisure activities, and sports
• Exercises
• Adjustments to postural habits or certain movements
• Manual therapy performed by the physiotherapist

So, what can we really attribute to osteoarthritis?

• Morning stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes that improves with movement
• Cracking of the joints during movement
• Swelling of the joint after a greater effort than usual

From now on, you can be confident that, regardless of your age, the degree of osteoarthritis, or your pain level, it is always possible to do something to improve the condition.

To learn more... 

Episode 15 of Parle-moi de santé (osteoarthritis)

Click below to listen to episodes on podcast platforms:

Sources

• Neogi T. The epidemiology and impact of pain in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and cartilage. 2013 Sep 1;21(9):1145-53.
• Zhang W, Doherty M, Peat G, Bierma-Zeinstra MA, Arden NK, Bresnihan B, Herrero-Beaumont G, Kirschner S, Leeb BF, Lohmander LS, Mazières B. EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2010 Mar 1;69(3):483-9.
• Décary S, Feldman D, Frémont P, Pelletier JP, Martel‐Pelletier J, Fallaha M, Pelletier B, Belzile S, Sylvestre MP, Vendittoli PA, Desmeules F. Initial derivation of diagnostic clusters combining history elements and physical examination tests for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Musculoskeletal care. 2018 Sep;16(3):370-9.
• Salamh P, Cook C, Reiman MP, Sheets C. Treatment effectiveness and fidelity of manual therapy to the knee: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Musculoskeletal care. 2017 Sep;15(3):238-48.

10 Quick Tips for Understanding Your Pain

The ones that have made the biggest difference in my patients' lives. 1 a day, 2 minutes.

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