• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine
UCLA Spine Center

UCLA Spine Center

UCLA Spine Center
  • About Us
    • Why Choose the UCLA Spine Center
    • Overview
    • In The News
    • Webinars
    • Make a Gift
  • Conditions
    • Adult Scoliosis
    • Adult Tethered Cord
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis
    • Basilar Invagination
    • Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
    • Cervical Disc Herniation
    • Cervical Fracture
    • Cervical Stenosis / Cervical Myelopathy
    • Chiari Malformation
    • Facet Joint Arthritis
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Idiopathic Scoliosis
    • Lumbar Disc Herniation
    • Lumbar Stenosis
    • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
    • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
    • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
    • Osteomyelitis
    • Osteoporosis / Vertebral Fractures
    • Platybasia
    • Radiculopathy (Cervical and Lumbar)
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Sacroiliac Joint Disease
    • Spinal Compression Fractures
    • Spinal Cord Injury
    • Spinal Cord Tumors
    • Syringomyelia
    • Thoracic Disc Degeneration
    • Thoracic Spine Fracture
    • Trochanteric Bursitis
    • Adult Scoliosis
    • Adult Tethered Cord
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis
    • Basilar Invagination
    • Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
    • Cervical Disc Herniation
    • Cervical Fracture
    • Cervical Stenosis / Cervical Myelopathy
    • Chiari Malformation
    • Facet Joint Arthritis
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Idiopathic Scoliosis
    • Lumbar Disc Herniation
    • Lumbar Stenosis
    • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
    • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
    • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
    • Osteomyelitis
    • Osteoporosis / Vertebral Fractures
    • Platybasia
    • Radiculopathy (Cervical and Lumbar)
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Sacroiliac Joint Disease
    • Spinal Compression Fractures
    • Spinal Cord Injury
    • Spinal Cord Tumors
    • Syringomyelia
    • Thoracic Disc Degeneration
    • Thoracic Spine Fracture
    • Trochanteric Bursitis
  • Treatments & Programs
    • Nonsurgical Treatment
    • Surgical Treatment
  • For Patients
    • Appointments
    • New Patient Questionnaires
    • Choosing a Multidisciplinary Pain Program
    • Patient Education Videos
    • Understanding Neck and Back Pain
    • Specialists Who Treat Back Pain
    • Physiatrists
    • Ergonomics for Prolonged Sitting
    • Fitness
    • Planning Your Spine Surgery
    • Preparing for Surgery
    • Patient Stories
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Health Plans
    • Helpful Resources
  • Contact Us
    • Map and Directions
  • Fellowship Programs
    • UCLA—WLA VA Pain Medicine Fellowship
    • Neurosurgery Spine Fellowship
    • Orthopaedic Spine Surgery Fellowship
    • UCLA Spine Center PMR Spine Medicine Fellowship
  • For Healthcare Professionals
    • Physician Directory
    • New Patient Questionnaires
  • Physician Directory
    • Specialists Who Treat Back Pain
    • Physiatrists
  • UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine

UCLA Spine Center

Conditions

Conditions

Conditions

  • Adult Scoliosis
  • Adult Tethered Cord
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Basilar Invagination
  • Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Cervical Disc Herniation
  • Cervical Fracture
  • Cervical Stenosis / Cervical Myelopathy
  • Chiari Malformation
  • Facet Joint Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Idiopathic Scoliosis
  • Lumbar Disc Herniation
  • Lumbar Stenosis
  • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
  • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
  • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Osteoporosis / Vertebral Fractures
  • Platybasia
  • Radiculopathy (Cervical and Lumbar)
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Sacroiliac Joint Disease
  • Spinal Compression Fractures
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Syringomyelia
  • Thoracic Disc Degeneration
  • Thoracic Spine Fracture
  • Trochanteric Bursitis
  • Adult Scoliosis
  • Adult Tethered Cord
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Basilar Invagination
  • Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Cervical Disc Herniation
  • Cervical Fracture
  • Cervical Stenosis / Cervical Myelopathy
  • Chiari Malformation
  • Facet Joint Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Idiopathic Scoliosis
  • Lumbar Disc Herniation
  • Lumbar Stenosis
  • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
  • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
  • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Osteoporosis / Vertebral Fractures
  • Platybasia
  • Radiculopathy (Cervical and Lumbar)
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Sacroiliac Joint Disease
  • Spinal Compression Fractures
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Syringomyelia
  • Thoracic Disc Degeneration
  • Thoracic Spine Fracture
  • Trochanteric Bursitis
  1. Home
  2. Conditions
  3. Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint

Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint

Share this

What You Should Know About Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint

Osteoarthritis (AO) of the Peripheral Joint is a disease that can cause pain and stiffness in the joints (i.e., lower back, hips, knees, etc.). The ends of the bones in normal joints are covered with smooth cartilage, which provides protection to these bones. Joints also contain a fluid called synovial fluid, which acts as a cushion or "shock absorber" and lubricates the joint.

In people with OA, the synovial fluid becomes thinner and loses its elasticity and ability to provide a good cushion. For this and other reasons, the cartilage covering the ends of the bones begins to break down and wear away, sometimes enough to expose the bones themselves. OA may be caused by many factors, including:

  • Excessive wear on the joints
  • Age, although OA does not occur in all people as they age
  • Obesity, especially with osteoarthritis of the knees
  • A small deformity of the bones in a joint
  • Joint injuries from sports
  • Work-related activities or accidents

Diagnosis

At times, pain that radiates from the back to the knee or hip may in fact be a joint problem, such as OA. Further workup should be done to try to rule out this source of pain.

Symptoms

The main symptom of OA is pain. The patient may feel pain during movement and even at rest. The joints may also be stiff and swollen, and there may be a loss of range of movement in the joint. The symptoms of OA may interfere with normal activities, such as walking and dressing, and they may also disrupt sleep.

OA can affect any joint. It commonly occurs in the knees, hips, and spine. For example, if you have osteoarthritis of the knee, you may feel tenderness in the knee area and pain during movement of the knee. You may also feel a "grating" or "catching" sensation in the joint during movement. The large muscles around your knee will become weaker with time, if pain prevents you from moving or exercising the leg.

Treatment

The symptoms of OA are treatable, especially in the early stages of the disease. There are different therapies available to help reduce or eliminate the pain associated with OA. One such option is synthetic synovial solutions such as Hyalgan.

Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest
UCLA Health hospitals ranked best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report
  • UCLA Health
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • UCLA Campus
  • Directory
  • Newsroom
  • Publications
  • Giving
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • Privacy Practices
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Emergency
  • Smoke-Free
  • Terms of Use
  • 1-310-825-2631
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Report Broken Links
  • Sitemap
Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest

Sign in to myUCLAhealth

Learn more about myUCLAhealth