Osteoarthritis is one of the types of arthritis that is caused due to degeneration and eventually loss of the cartilage of joints. Cartilage is a tissue that covers the inside of the joints and acts as a cushion between the two bones forming a joint. When the cartilage starts undergoing degeneration, the bone becomes inflamed as its protective covering is lost. This causes pain

during weight bearing activities such as standing, walking, etc.

Joint structure Causes:
Osteoarthritis occurs commonly as a person ages and it is frequently seen in persons above the age of 55 years though it can also occur earlier than this. Before the age of 45 years, it is more common in males. Genetic predisposition also is one common cause for osteoarthritis. This condition usually affects the weight bearing joints such as the knees and hips; it can also affect other joints such as those of the hands, feet and the spine.

OA knees:
When the osteoarthritis is due to ageing process it is known as primary osteoarthritis; when there are other conditions in the background that have triggered this disorder, it is known as Secondary osteoarthritis. Secondary osteoarthritis can be caused by any of the following:
Trauma
Joint surgery
Obesity
Congenital anomalies of the joint
Gout
Diabetes
Hormonal disorders (especially Growth hormone disorders)

Symptoms:
The common symptoms of Osteoarthritis:

Heberden's nodes
Pain and stiffness of the affected joint
Swelling and warmth of the joint
Creaking of the joint
Pain is usually worse after repetitive use of the joint
Stiffness is usually worse after a long period of inactivity
Pain may occur at rest too (in severe cases)
Limited mobility of joints
Inability to squat
Bony enlargement of small joints of fingers (called Heberdens nodules)

Spine osteoarthritis can cause:
Neck pain and stiffness
Backache
Tingling numbness of extremities

Homoeopathic treatment:
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where the pathological changes in the joint are almost irreversible. Homoeopathic medicine can alleviate the pain significantly but cannot cure the disease completely. Most cases respond well as far as the long-term pain relief is concerned. Homoeopathic medicines are definitely suggested for osteoarthritis, especially for early cases where the medicines can slow down the degenerative process and offer considerable pain relief.