Expectations Length: A minimum of 180 words, not including references Relate ori

Expectations
Length: A minimum of 180 words, not including references
Relate original post to another study/journal
Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA from within the last 5 years
A 65-year-old male presents with a painful left finger, he is unable to bend it and it is significantly swollen. He has a history of osteoarthritis.
1. OA is a disease of articular cartilage and subchondral bone in diarthrodial joints. Explain this.
The joints consist of two bones that are covered by articular cartilage to enable these bones to glide against each other without friction. The synovium forms the inner lining of the joint space that produces synovial fluid that lubricates two articular surfaces. With osteoarthritis, there is a progressive loss of the articular cartilage that result to increasing friction, thus generating inflammation and pain.
2. What is the role of osteophytes in OA?
The presence of osteocytes has been associated with joint symptoms. Also known as bone spurs, it is a bony growth near the joints that develop overtime in people with joint damage. It causes pain and stiffness when they rub against bone and muscles. When a person suffers from some degree of cartilage loss, the body adapts to maintain the stability of the knee joint as a result of cascade of cellular reactions that begin with formation of new bone tissue in the areas where the bone has been damaged.
3. How do NSAIDS affect OA?
Management of OA aims on alleviation of inflammatory pain and improvement of physical function through pharmacological interventions preferably with NSAIDS (Magni et al, 2021). It is the first-line therapy as it has a rapid effect on pain reduction by blocking the production of prostaglandins.
4. How does weight loss affect OA?
Aside from pharmacologial approach to OA, weight loss is essentially important in decreasing the pressure from the knees that contribute to the progression of OA. The reduction of weight improves mobility thus decreasing joint loads. While this will not reverse OA, it can significantly improve symptoms as well as prevent more damage to the joints.
References:
Magni, A., Agostoni, P., Bonezzi, C., Massazza, G., Menè, P., Savarino, V., Fornasari, D. (2021). Management of osteoarthritis: expert opinion on NSAIDs. Pain and Therapy. doi: 10.1007/s40122-021-00260-1.