Osteoarthritis: symptoms, causes & treatment in Nigeria
Also known as wear-and-tear arthritis, knee arthritis.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Osteoarthritis is the gradual wearing of joint cartilage — most often the knees, hips and hands — causing pain that worsens with activity and stiffness after rest. It is the commonest arthritis in older Nigerians, especially affecting the knees. Exercise and weight control genuinely slow it; staying still makes it worse.
Symptoms
Joint pain that worsens with activity and eases with rest
Stiffness after waking or sitting, easing within 30 minutes
Grating, creaking or cracking in the joint
Joint swelling
Reduced range of motion
Knees giving way or difficulty with stairs
Causes & risk factors
Age-related cartilage wear
Excess body weight loading the knees and hips
Previous joint injuries
Repetitive heavy loading from work
Family tendency; more common in women
Treatment & self-care
The core treatment is movement: regular gentle exercise to strengthen the muscles around the joint, weight loss to unload it, and physiotherapy for technique. Doctors add pain relief used sensibly — long-term daily NSAID self-medication harms kidneys and stomach — and joint injections or replacement surgery help advanced disease. Walking aids and shoe cushioning reduce strain.
A hot, swollen joint or fever (rule out infection)
Sudden inability to bear weight
Night pain disturbing sleep regularly
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Osteoarthritis?
Early signs often include joint pain that worsens with activity and eases with rest, stiffness after waking or sitting, easing within 30 minutes, grating, creaking or cracking in the joint. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Osteoarthritis be treated?
The core treatment is movement: regular gentle exercise to strengthen the muscles around the joint, weight loss to unload it, and physiotherapy for technique. Doctors add pain relief used sensibly — long-term daily NSAID self-medication harms kidneys and stomach — and joint injections or replacement surgery help advanced disease. Walking aids and shoe cushioning reduce strain.
When should I see a doctor about Osteoarthritis?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: joint pain limiting daily activities despite simple measures; a hot, swollen joint or fever (rule out infection); sudden inability to bear weight; night pain disturbing sleep regularly.