osteoarthritis nursing assignment help

osteoarthritis nursing assignment help

Osteoarthritis: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Introduction to Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease, typically characterized by pain, joint swelling, and cartilage breakdown. It’s the most common form of arthritis in the United States, currently affecting more than 30 million adults. This form of the disease is called primary osteoarthritis; it occurs as part of the body’s natural aging process. As people get older, water content increases and the protein in the cartilage degenerates. Over time, repeated stress on the joints, such as the natural wearing process or through sporting activities, can wear away the cartilage and lead to the pain and weakness that are the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can also result from previous damage to the joint in the form of either a fracture or a medical condition. When this happens, it’s known as secondary osteoarthritis. This guide will address primary osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of the disease. The first step to managing osteoarthritis is knowing and understanding the type you have. The sooner therapy starts, the more that people who have the disease can take responsibility for their own well-being and gain control over it. By working closely with a doctor, it’s possible to minimize physical discomfort and maximize the freedom of movement. This guide will cover a wide range of topics, from the nature of the disease and its causes, to an in-depth analysis of the changes that happen to the joint, the pathology behind the disease, and the full range of treatments that are used in its management.

2. Causes and Risk Factors

Biomechanics Biomechanics refer to the forces and structures of the human body. The function of our bones and the movement of our body are all related to the field of biomechanics. A normal healthy body is an amazing machine with an intricate design that involves a number of complex biomechanical processes. However, accumulated injury, malalignment, or increased weight from obesity may predispose an individual to the development of osteoarthritis. The most common example is in the knee joint. When someone has a serious knee injury, the chances of developing osteoarthritis are about 50%. If the person has a more subtle injury, such as a torn meniscus from something like kneeling on the floor, the chances of developing osteoarthritis are about 10-15%. All these injuries change the biomechanics of the knee. For example, if the medial meniscus is torn, the loading of the knee will be more on the medial compartment, and this will predispose that patient to the development of osteoarthritis on the medial compartment. Similarly, if the cruciate ligaments are damaged leading to an inherently unstable knee, this will also predispose to osteoarthritis. This will allow for further misalignment to the biomechanics of the knee, accelerating the process of osteoarthritis and damage. This is supported by a 4-year study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2008. The study reported that every single pound of weight lost results in a 4-pound reduction in knee joint load among overweight and obese people. They found that even a modest amount of weight loss resulted in a great relief of that load. We now know that in individuals, for every pound of weight that they lose, they will transfer 4 pounds of load from the knee. This is up to 48,000 pounds less in compressive load for the knee for every mile walked. This is the reason why healthcare professionals always encourage overweight patients to lose weight to try to reduce the compressive stresses acting on the weight-bearing joints and to improve our body’s own natural shock absorbers. This did make life very difficult for obese people because once osteoarthritis sets in, it will be harder for them to exercise and lose weight. These people have significant disability because of the pain and the reduced mobility. There is a lot of discussion about the resurfacing for knee replacement surgery, that is, to resurface the weight-bearing compartments of the joint, but then science has not been able to provide any scientific data showing that resurfacing alone is going to be able to take away the need for a knee replacement surgery in people suffering from osteoarthritis.

Genetics Osteoarthritis has a significant genetic component. Studies have shown that the disease tends to run in families, and individuals are more likely to develop it if they have a close relative with the condition. Several different genetic traits have been shown to increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis, including abnormalities at particular genes that are involved in building and maintaining joint tissues.

Osteoarthritis is a multifactorial disease, which means it is likely caused by a combination of factors that increase a person’s susceptibility to the disease. The two main factors that contribute to its development are genetics and biomechanics.

3. Symptoms and Diagnosis

Pain comes and goes at first, but it gets more constant as the osteoarthritis progresses. Eventually, the pain may be there all the time. Pain during movement of the affected joint. Some people with osteoarthritis will feel the pain in their joints when they move. The pain is often worse when they are using the joint. This can be a hard symptom to come because movement and exercise are some of the best treatments for osteoarthritis. So if the pain is stopping you from moving your joints, let your doctor know to help you get on top of the pain and start exercising the joint. Joint tenderness. Your joint may feel tender when you apply light pressure to it. Like joint pain, tenderness can get in the way of everyday movements and activities. As a result, people around you may notice that you do not want to be touched because your joint is sore. Stiffness. Your joints might feel stiff, especially when you wake up in the morning or after a period of inactivity. This is because the affected joint may not have moved all night, or it may have been immobile because of a particular activity, for example, gardening. However, the stiffness usually wears off after a few minutes. Reduced flexibility. You may not be able to move your joints through their full range of motion. This is sometimes known as having a “poor range of motion.” Your flexibility in that joint has become less than if you do not have the flexibility to do everyday things, like doing up your laces or putting your clothes on, so notifying your doctor would be essential. Grating or crackling sensations. Sometimes, osteoarthritis can cause you to hear or feel clicking or creaking when you move your affected joint. This occurs when the damaged joint moves in certain ways and can create a grating sensation. These joints may not work as well and you may see a grating movement at the joint, known as “crepitus.” It is very important to keep in mind that the symptoms of osteoarthritis often develop slowly over time. They can vary from person to person and each individual may experience different symptoms. If you have started experiencing any of the osteoarthritis symptoms mentioned in the list above that persist for more than a few weeks, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms and diagnosis.

4. Treatment Options

The treatment of osteoarthritis can be divided into two aspects. One is non-surgical management and the other is surgical management. When it comes to non-surgical management, the most important thing is patient education and lifestyle modifications. Some medications and intra-articular injections, like steroids and hyaluronic acid, can also be helpful for symptom relief. Physical therapy can help improve patient’s muscle strength and the range of motion of the affected joint. In terms of surgical management, it becomes an option when the conservative treatment fails to control the symptoms. Joint replacement surgeries have become an increasingly common option for patients with osteoarthritis. The most commonly replaced joints are hips and knees. A prosthesis is used to replace the damaged parts of the joint. The damaged surfaces at the end of the thigh bone and top of the shin bone are removed. In addition to bony surfaces, there is often a plastic insert placed between the two metal components. These effectively replace the joint surfaces with a smooth and low-friction surface, allowing continued motion of the joint. The long term result of total joint replacement is excellent and patient can expect pain relief and improved function of the joint. Modern technology has made surgery less and less demanding and much easier than before. For example, in the past, a hip replacement patient might have to stay in the hospital for up to two weeks. Today, it is getting more common that patient can have the surgery done in the morning, and go home on the same day! Also, the incisions are getting smaller and smaller as the surgical instruments and techniques are advancing. The rehabilitation process after surgery has also been progressing over the years. Today, patient typically start physical therapy the day after the operation with the general goal of helping regain the strength and motion of the joint. Given that hip and knee replacements are 2 of the most common joint replacement surgeries that are performed in Australia, the researchers are also interested in assessing the clinical and economic effectiveness of the surgical procedures. While many people who have hip/knee replacements experience good recovery and sustained pain relief, there will be some patients having poor outcomes. The main question of concern is: should we have more hip/knee replacement surgeries, given the growing number of prosthesis surgeries performed each year? The research aims to provide accurate and quality information to help patient and healthcare professionals make informed decisions on healthcare programs and procedures for managing osteoarthritis symptoms. It will focus on comparing good outcomes, such as improved quality of life and productivity, against poor outcomes, such as infections, dislocations of the joint and re-revision surgeries. The knowledge gained from this study can be used to develop effective healthcare interventions that will optimize the quality of life for millions of people living with chronic osteoarthritis.

5. Nursing Care for Osteoarthritis Patients

As a nurse caring for individuals with osteoarthritis, it is important to recognise that osteoarthritis affects each person differently. In order to provide effective nursing care for our patients, it is crucial to be able to understand and critically evaluate the physical, psychological and social needs and challenges that osteoarthritis can present. This includes not just the physical symptoms and limitations, but also the emotional and mental impact that the condition can have. Nurses can employ a variety of approaches and strategies in order to support patients in managing the symptoms of osteoarthritis and to maximise their functional independence. A key area of nursing care for people with osteoarthritis is the promotion of effective self-management strategies. By working collaboratively with patients to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the condition and by helping them to identify individualised strategies for managing their symptoms, nurses can make a significant positive impact on patient care. Creative approaches to patient education and self-management are often critical – this could involve, for example, using visual and interactive resources to engage patients and to promote a more active and self-directed learning approach. It is important for nurses to remain up-to-date with current recommended treatments and approaches for managing osteoarthritis, and to critique their practice regularly in order to ensure that care is provided in a way that is evidence-based and that reflects best practice guidelines. Learning from the most recent research, attending continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities, and engaging with the process of clinical audit are just some examples of how nurses can ensure that their care remains current and effective. Developing expert knowledge in the area of musculoskeletal care, and osteoarthritis in particular, is a helpful way in which nurses can work towards providing the best possible care for patients. This could involve nurses in developing or leading nurse-led clinics in the area of joint and arthritis care, or taking an active role in the development of care pathways and the dissemination of best practice to other healthcare professionals. Such active roles in practice development can help to ensure that the needs of people with osteoarthritis remain at the forefront of service design, and can contribute towards enhancing the quality and effectiveness of care not just for individual patients, but for wider groups of people who are affected by the condition.