A knee that aches on the stairs. A hip that feels stiff after sitting too long. Hands that struggle with a jar lid.

Most people blame this on age. Often, it's osteoarthritis. It's one of the most common joint conditions adults deal with, and it can show up in the knees, hips, hands, or spine. Most people ignore the early signs at first. They just seem too mild to worry about.

What is osteoarthritis?

Think of cartilage as the cushion sitting between your bones. Osteoarthritis is what happens when that cushion slowly wears thin. Once it's worn down enough, movement starts hurting; that's all degenerative joint disease means, even though it sounds more serious than it is.

As the joint wears, bone starts rubbing against bone. Joints swell up. They get stiff. Even simple movement starts to cost something.

Early signs of osteoarthritis

These early signs are easy to dismiss but catching them matters.

Mild joint pain after activity.
Morning stiffness.
Stiffness after sitting for long periods.
Clicking or cracking sound in the joint.
Reduced flexibility.
Pain that comes and goes.

Left alone, these symptoms tend to progress slowly. Catching them early, with small lifestyle changes, reduces pressure on the joint and slows the decline.

Common osteoarthritis symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. Some notice stiffness first. Others only feel pain after a long walk.

Joint pain.
Joint stiffness.
Joint swelling.
Tenderness around the joint.
Reduced range of motion.
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Pain while bending or gripping.
Pain that worsens with activity.

Knee osteoarthritis

The knee carries weight with every step, which is why it is one of the joints affected most often.

Knee pain while walking.
Pain while climbing stairs.
Difficulty squatting.
Swelling around the knee.
Stiffness after rest.
Difficulty standing for long periods.

Over time, this shows up in daily life. Walking gets harder. Stairs become something you think twice about. People often lose a bit of confidence in their own movement without even realising it.

Hip osteoarthritis

Hip pain does not always stay in the hip. It can travel, which makes it easy to mistake for something else.

Pain in the groin, thigh, buttock, or knee.
Stiffness while walking.
Difficulty getting up from a chair.
Trouble bending or tying shoes.
Change in walking pattern.

Get it checked once pain starts affecting sleep, walking gets genuinely hard, or rest just stops helping.

Osteoarthritis causes

There is rarely a single cause. Usually, a few factors build up together over time.

Age-related cartilage wear.
Previous joint injury.
Obesity or excess weight.
Repeated joint strain.
Weak muscles around the joint.
Family history.
Joint alignment problems.

Repetitive work and sports injuries add to this, too. So does poor posture, an inactive lifestyle, or an old fracture that never quite healed the same way.

Osteoarthritis risk factors

Some people are simply more likely to develop osteoarthritis than others.

Older adults.
People who are overweight.
People with previous joint injury.
People with a family history.
People with repeated joint stress.
People with weak muscles.
People with joint deformity or alignment issues.

Osteoarthritis vs arthritis

Arthritis is the umbrella term. It covers a lot of different joint conditions involving inflammation or disease. Osteoarthritis is just one type under that umbrella, caused by cartilage wear, and it tends to progress slowly. The distinction isn't just semantics. Different types of arthritis need different treatments, so getting the diagnosis right actually matters.

How osteoarthritis is diagnosed

Physical examination.
Review of symptoms.
Assessment of joint movement.
X-rays.
MRI in selected cases.
Blood tests to rule out other arthritis types if needed.

Osteoarthritis treatment options

Most people start with non-surgical care:

Pain-relief medicines as advised by the doctor.
Physiotherapy and muscle-strengthening exercises.
Weight management.
Hot or cold therapy.
Supportive braces or walking aids.
Lifestyle modification.

If that is not enough, doctors may consider joint injections, pain-management procedures, or, in severe cases, surgery, including joint replacement.

Osteoarthritis pain relief and exercises

During a flare-up, rest helps, but staying inactive for too long makes joints stiffer, not better.

Rest during flare-ups.
Physiotherapy-guided movement.
Heat or cold therapy.
Doctor-prescribed medicine.
Supportive devices when recommended.

Once the flare settles down, movement is part of the treatment, not something to avoid. Walking, swimming, and cycling are good places to start. Stretching and range-of-motion work help too. The trick is building up slowly and letting a physiotherapist guide the pace instead of pushing through pain.

Lifestyle changes for osteoarthritis

Maintain a healthy weight
Stay physically active
Avoid repeated joint strain
Use correct posture
Wear supportive footwear
Take breaks during long activity
Follow medical advice regularly

When should you see a doctor for joint pain?

Joint pain lasts for several weeks.
Stiffness affects movement.
There is swelling.
Pain affects sleep.
Walking becomes difficult.
Home care does not help.
Knee or hip pain limits daily routine.

Technology and expertise at Narayana Health

Orthopaedic Care Support: Narayana Health offers comprehensive osteoarthritis care through:

Specialist-led orthopaedic evaluation.
Advanced diagnostic imaging.
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation services.
Pain management programmes.
Joint preservation strategies.
Surgical care for advanced arthritis.
Personalised treatment planning.

Why choose Narayana Health for osteoarthritis care?

Choosing the right place for joint care matters as much as the treatment itself. Narayana Health offers specialist-led joint evaluation along with imaging support, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and pain-management care.

Surgical treatment is available, too, for the cases that need it. Orthopaedic specialists here manage knee and hip osteoarthritis regularly; this isn't an occasional case for them, and physiotherapists work alongside the medical team rather than as a separate referral. If surgery is ever needed down the line, it happens within the same hospital network, so the care team already knows the case.

Conclusion

Osteoarthritis is common, and for most people, it is manageable. The mistake people make is waiting, explaining joint pain and stiffness as age or a bad week until it stops being occasional and becomes constant.

Timely diagnosis won't undo wear that's already happened. But it does slow down what comes next. What treatment looks like depends entirely on how far things have gone; sometimes it's just lifestyle changes, sometimes physiotherapy, sometimes surgery. With the right specialist care, most people genuinely do get back to moving comfortably.

Call the orthopaedic team at Narayana Health today at 08068617735.