What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive loss of joint cartilage; it is the most common form of arthritis. It may be hereditary, developmental, metabolic, or related to mechanical, viral, or bacterial factors.
How do members experience osteoarthritis?
Top 5 symptoms reported by people with osteoarthritis*
Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Mobility limited by distance
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Pain in lower back
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Pain in back of neck and shoulders
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Fatigue
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Top treatments taken by people for osteoarthritis*
Treatment
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Type
Physical Therapy
How many have tried
2,022
Tried for
osteoarthritis
(10)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
1,839
Tried for
osteoarthritis
(5)
*Data from patients with osteoarthritis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Compare treatments taken by people with osteoarthritis*
Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Perceived effectiveness
for osteoarthritis (4 evaluations)
Side effects
joint crackling (crepitus)
pelvic pain
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
osteoarthritis
(10)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
osteoarthritis
(5)
*Data from patients with osteoarthritis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Who has osteoarthritis on PatientsLikeMe?
| Age | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| <20 | 2 | |
| 20s | 43 | |
| 30s | 308 | |
| 40s | 1,198 | |
| 50s | 3,225 | |
| 60s | 4,518 | |
| 70+ | 2,834 |
Distribution of sex
| Sex | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 1,295 | |
| Female | 10,800 |