“Bone on bone” is one of the most common phrases people hear after an OA diagnosis — and one of the most discouraging.

But here’s what the research actually shows: pain in osteoarthritis doesn’t reliably match what’s on an X-ray. Some people with significant joint changes have little pain. Others have moderate changes and significant pain.

That’s because pain is shaped by more than the joint itself — the nervous system plays a major role.