Osteoarthritis

The wearing down of the protective tissue at the ends of bones occurs gradually and worsens over time. Medication, physiotherapy, and sometimes surgery can help reduce pain and maintain joint movement. It can happen in any joint but usually affects your fingers, thumbs, spine, hips, knees, or big toes. Osteoarthritis is more common in older people.  X-rays can reveal asymmetric joint space narrowing, osteophytes at the joint margins, joint space narrowing, and subchondral bone sclerosis. Symptoms may vary for no obvious reason.