Buy backpacks, exercise machines, athletic shoes, and more at Fogdog Sports. After years of use, the cartilage that cushions the joints can break down until bone rubs against bone. Spurs often grow on the sides of the affected bones, which only adds to the pain. Osteoarthritis is rarely crippling, but it can have a major impact on a person's life.
Many people miss work days or skip favorite activities when the pain flares up.
The condition is responsible for more than 7 million doctor visits per year and is the number one reason for joint-replacement surgery. For most people, it takes several decades to wear down enough cartilage to cause osteoarthritis. The number of cases rises sharply after age 50 in men and age 40 in women. Once women reach menopause, they are much more likely than men in the same age range to develop arthritis pain. Overweight people and those with a family history of arthritis are also especially vulnerable to the condition.