A 58-year-old patient has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hands and feet. The patient tells the nurse, "I am afraid that I will be hopelessly crippled in just a few years!" The best response by the nurse is that

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OA is localized to joints that have been injured or have high use. Although exercise, diet, and drugs can help to decrease symptoms and slow disease progression, they will not prevent progression of the disease. OA is progressive and does not have exacerbations and remissions, which are typical of RA. Joint degeneration and pain occur later in OA; joint deformity is not a common symptom.

A 58-Year-Old Patient Has Been Diagnosed with Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Hands