Osteoarthritis is a degenerative bone condition that can affect any joint in the body, but the most common areas affected are the knees, hips and small joints in the hands. Often the symptoms appear in one joint or a few joints at any one time. Often referred to as ‘wear and tear’ arthritis the main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness in your joints. Whilst symptoms may come and go in episodes in the early stages, in severe cases the level of pain can greatly restrict normal life and everyday activities and has a significant impact on quality of life.

Whilst there is no cure for osteoarthritis, it can be managed to reduce and alleviate the pain associated with the condition. In cases of severe osteoarthritis, the symptoms can be continuous and persistent and will require treatment.

When osteoarthritis reaches a severe stage, surgical intervention is necessary and joint replacement surgery under the care of an Orthopaedic surgeon is the best option. This involves removal of the damaged joint (knee, hip and shoulder) and putting in a new one. The level of aftercare and commitment to a programme of post-surgery rehabilitation is very important to the success of any joint surgery.