Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint condition that causes cartilage wear, bone change, pain, and stiffness.
Common symptoms include joint pain, stiffness after rest, reduced movement, swelling, and pain that often gets worse with use.
Imaging helps confirm the pattern of joint wear, show how advanced it is, and look for other causes of pain when symptoms are unclear.
X-rays often show joint space narrowing, osteophytes, and chronic degenerative change, while MRI may help in selected cases.
Care may include exercise, pain relief, weight support, injections, and joint replacement when advanced disease limits daily function.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
