Osteoarthritis (Joint Degeneration)

It begins gradually. A stabbing in the knee on the stairs. A pulling in the fingers in the morning. A stiffness in the hip that only eases after a few minutes. At some point what was occasional discomfort becomes a constant companion — a pain that burrows into the joints and will not let go.

Medically, osteoarthritis is the breakdown of cartilage tissue. The protective layer between the bones becomes thinner, rougher, more brittle — until bone rubs on bone. The body dismantles what once protected it. The question BodySignal asks goes deeper: what has worn you down inwardly to the point where your body gradually withdraws the protection between your joints — your points of movement — piece by piece?

Osteoarthritis is not mere wear and tear. It is the physical language of a person who has been wearing themselves down for a long time.