Is Osteoarthritis genetic?

I'm afraid so!  Keep following the discussions and you will always find someone to help/advise.

It's easy to say, but exercise seems to be the only way of keeping degeneration of bones at bay (not easy when everythibg hurts), but GENTLE excercise is recommended by all doctors and rheunies.

Good luck! 💐

A number of members of my family have Osteoarthritis. Many people I know have NO ARTHRITIS. I'm thinking there HAS to be a bit of heredity involved!

I also think there are triggers that bring it on. For me it was my two pregnancies. Prior to them I didn't have ANY indication of joint issues. Also, in reading posters in my doctor's office they stated that Osteoarthritis usually begins to show up in our 30s. That was the decade when I had two children by C-section AND a fibroid removal (Myomectomy). My most recent flare began not long after my 99 year old mother moved in with us following a stroke and subsequent stroke-enduced epilepsy which also led to Dementia. The two years caring for her wasn't difficult in regard to her physical issues or age, but the Dementia meant constant EMOTIONAL stress and challenges on my husband and I as she often lashed out at us, slapped and bit and had scary mood swings. My husband's health and mine definitely showed much wear and tear over those two years!

Your medication, your age, probably your family history and heredity all played some part in my opinion.

I did the PT sessions, the cortisone injection in my knee, TRIED to get the OrthoDisc shots (rooster combs) but my insurance wouldn't cover them. From there it was seeing a Rheumotologist to identify the type of arthritis I had. Specific blood testing to locate markers of various types of arthritis ruled out all auto-immune types such as Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was then given Meloxicam for pain and sent to the doctor who specialized in bones and joints (Orthopedic Specialist). The Meloxicam caused a stomach ulcers, so it was onto a GASTROENTEROLOGIST!

By then I was so disgusted that I quit doctors all together! I sucked it up and just took Extra Strength Arthritis Tylenol and quit doing many things I loved doing because it was just too painful to walk or stand.

Fast forward four more years...

I woke to HORRENDOUS, out-of-the-blue pain which felt like a sword being thrust through the back of my knee and out the front of my not-so-bad knee. I could put ZERO weight on it and needed crutches for two days. It was Memorial Day Weekend, so no doctor's offices were open. I made my appointment that next Tuesday.

My x-rays showed considerable bowing of my legs, NO CARTILAGE left in either knee and BONE-ON-BONE action happening in both knees. I expected Doc to say I needed arthoscopic surgery. Instead he told me I was a candidate for TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENTS of both knees.

I was actually relieved. My pain had gotten so bad that I really did think that maybe AMPUTATION would solve my problems. I had seen those amazing athletes using those Cheetah legs and running MARATHONS. Without SOMETHING being done I was having a hard time walking to the mailbox!

I scheduled my first TKR for three weeks later. My second TKR was three and a half months after that. They are two of the best things I have ever done for myself! I can now shop for hours, garden, go to rallies and parades and stand for many hours. I can enjoy so many things again that I thought were lost to me forever. I danced at our son's wedding, and I can play with our 16 month old granddaughter. I can go up and down stairs and have SO MUCH better balance than I had on those two painful, deteriorating knees.

I have my life back.

I hope you will be able to see your doctor and get a good plan in place that will help you, too!

Sending prayers of strength to you today!😊

Hi Janie,I'm thinking it is a good possibility that the cancer treatment did have

an effect but osteo is hereditary.My dad blessed me with head to toe arthritis

I too am new to the osteo forum and I think constance and cheryl gave some

pretty great advice.My pain is starting to increase more in my knee and it is

the most intense pain when it flares.I'm not sure about others but my lower

back pain from osteo is no where intense as the knee when I am in a flare.

I wonder if the pain in the knees is the most painful area for osteo? Hang in

there.Try to do as much movement as you can when you can,I know it's

not a pleasant thought but it does help not to turn in to the tin man.I keep

an ice pack I made out of  1 cup of 70% rubbing alcohol and 2 cups of water

and keep it ready for when my knee acts up.Heating pads are a big life saver

for me more than the ice pack.My rheumatologist also to stay away from dairy

as it causes inflammation.Just a few thoughts and welcome to the forum..

I'm afraid that Zoladex and the other hormone blocking agents used to treat and/or prevent breast cancer (new or recurring) do state that joint and bone pain are common side effects. My mother is taking it and I'm part of a very large group of women who have/had taken these drugs and this is one of the most common complaints. The pain can be debilitating and life altering. Please speak with your physician to see if you can take something different. 

It can be hereditary I'm afraid. I'm 41 and definetly I got it from my mum's side who had hip, knee, toes and hands surgery to replace the joints. It's terrifying to know it's just going to get worse when the pain is already very bad. Just like Cheryl, it was my pregnancy at 38 that brought on the pain, especially in my hips and hands. Before pregnancy, I had only minor discomfort in my fingers ( heberdens nodes) from the age of 33. Now it's really painful I can't even change my daughter without feeling a lot of pain or put a sock on. I haven't seen a doctor about this yet, but I know it can't be cure and anti inflammatories aren't for me, I suffered from gastritis already. I only hope they find something that has less side effects, because it's a very painful and limiting condition.