What happens if osteoarthritis is left untreated?

You may dismiss the constant stiffness or pain in the knees and hips as ordinary signs of ageing. But what you may not realize is that these can be the symptoms of a deteriorating condition of the joint called Osteoarthritis. This condition occurs when the cartilage of our weight bearing joints slowly wears away bringing the bones to rub together. Although it is more common in the elderly, the young and middle aged group is also prone to osteoarthritis. If medical intervention is given at the right time as soon as the symptoms develop, this condition can be managed successfully. If you choose to ignore the pain, you could be setting yourself up for much more serious complications like:

• Damage to the tendons and ligaments of the joint
• Restricted range of motion
• Curved out knees (bow-legged appearance)
• New growth on the ends of the bones called bone spurs which causes severe pain
• Infection in the joint called Septic Arthritis 
• Osteonecrosis, i.e. break down and death of bone cells due to poor blood supply

To avoid these complications, it is very important to consult an expert orthopaedic to diagnose and treat osteoarthritis at its early stage and undergo monitoring regularly.

Blog reviewed by: Dr Vineeth MB
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