Patient/caregiver was educated on the complications of unresolved osteoarthritis as follows: Nerve damage: Inflamed joints can exert pressure on the nerves running close to the joint involved, leading to neuropathy. Individuals can present with signs and symptoms of neuropathy, such as, nerve pain, altered sensation, tingling& numbness along the area of distribution of the involved nerve, sharp radiating burning pain along the distribution of the nerve, and weakness of muscles supplied by the involved nerve. [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on the complications of unresolved osteoarthritis as follows: Damage to the cartilage: Osteoarthritis involves damage to the articular cartilage that covers the ends of bones and allows the bones to glide over each other. Articular cartilage minimizes the friction between the joints and makes the movement easier and pain free. Chronic unresolved osteoarthritis leads to complete lysis of the articular cartilage resulting in loose tissue material. Also, total shrinking of the joint [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on the risk factors and causes for osteoarthritis as follows: Older age: Osteoarthritis is a condition, mainly due to the wear and tear of joint over the years. So, the more the age, the higher the risk for wear and tear, and so is the chance for development of osteoarthritis. Obesity: Individuals who are grossly overweight and with highly disproportionate weight to their height are at increased risk for presentation with osteoarthritis. [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis as follows: Warmth and redness Chemicals from the white cells and damaged joint tissues can contribute to relaxation and dilation of blood vessels in and around the joint, resulting in more blood flow to the joint. Increased blood flow results in warmth and redness to the involved joint. Swelling Chemicals released as part of inflammatory process contribute to relaxation and dilation of blood vessels in [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis as follows: Pain and tenderness Loss of articular cartilage results in the exposure of bone ends, which rub against each other during movement in the joint. This rubbing of the bone ends lead to bone remodeling, pain, and inflammation in the joint involved. White blood cells, which are protective and fight against any infecting organisms, increasingly migrate to the affected joint as part of inflammatory [...]