Well (it's a long story, but will try the short version) - I have 'OA'. As well as multiple other issues, like, due to a genetic blood disorder I must take blood thinners for life (and INR blood tests every four weeks), and due to anemia caused by internal bleeding, I am no longer allowed to take any type of NSAID-ever again (anti-inflammatories).
2009 left knee replaced (nine prior surgeries)
2010 right hip replaced
2011 right shoulder 'rebuilt' (tear in cuff, bone spurs, lots of threads, and one tendon 'stitched') - eight weeks in a sling
2014 right knee replaced (July)
2014 left shoulder 'rebuilt' (OCT) - small cuff tear, bone spurs, threads cut off, the 'ball' end of the bone smoothed out
Left hip is due 'sometime' - hope to wait til winter 2015.
'Trigger-finger' issues, 3 on right hand, 2 on left hand - not fixed yet.
I know, I know - I ought to know some/most of the medical terms by now, but honestly I just don't want to know, as knowing won't help me. I say something hurts, so they take X-rays, and/or MRI and tell me it's junk and when do I want to 'fix' it? Apparently, the left shoulder is bad enough, they are waiting to see what my healed pain-level will be in order to determine if they should 'replace' it. Shoulder replacements are not as good as knee or hip replacements I am told - so my Ortho always tried a 'repair' first. I am told the 'ball' of my left shoulder is badly worn (as in flat in one place), and this repair may or may not do me much good.
So far, while not 'pain-free', everything (not counting the left shoulder yet) is far and away much better than each one was pre-op. The goal here is to (hopefully) lower my pain-meds while keeping a decent quality of life, and making it possible for me to exercise for both weight loss and heart health.
Aren't you glad you asked?