Are you looking for information on Osteoarthritis treatment? Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is also known as degenerative arthritis and is caused by the damage and loss of the cartilage of the joints. We all know that the cartilage serves as a ‘cushion’ between the joint and the bones. It acts as a shock absorber and promotes smooth movement of the joints. The same with other types of arthritis, osteoarthritis treatment only provides relief for the symptoms. Osteoarthritis treatment cannot reverse or restore the damage done in the joints.
Causes of osteoarthritis are categorized in two: primary and secondary osteoarthritis. Primary osteoarthritis usually comes with aging while secondary osteoarthritis is caused by another condition or disease.
Unlike other arthritis, osteoarthritis does not affect any other organs in the body. The most common symptom is joint pain. There can also be warmth and swelling on the affected joints accompanied by a creaking sound. Symptoms vary greatly for person to person that is why osteoarthritis treatment for each person also differs.
As was mentioned before, osteoarthritis treatment does not really heal arthritis, rather, it only alleviates and reduces the pain and symptoms experience by the patient. There is no specific osteoarthritis treatment that can stop cartilage degeneration or that can repair and restore damaged cartilage. Pain experienced varies from patient to patient, some patient experience minimal or no pain at all. Primarily, goal of osteoarthritis treatment is to reduce and alleviate joint pain and inflammation while maintaining and improving joint function.
Some patients benefit from conservative osteoarthritis treatment measures such as exercise and rest, weight loss and diet control, physical therapy and mechanical devices for support. These measures are beneficial when large, weight-bearing joints are involved such as the knees and hip. Medications may also be taken. It may be used topically, orally or injected directly into the affected joints to reduce joint pain and inflammation. When all of the osteoarthritis treatment above did not work, surgery can be considered.
Joint pain worsens with activity so patients are advised to rest, though not for long periods. Joint pain also worsens after long periods of inactivity. Resting for a certain period of time decreases stress on the affected joints thus, reducing pain and swelling.
Normally, exercise does not worsen osteoarthritis if performed at levels that do not cause pain. It is helpful for patients but keep in mind to not force the joints to perform exercise. Exercise strengthens the muscles around the joints needed for support. It also prevents the affected joints from “freezing up” which result to improved joint mobility. It is also effective for weight reduction. It is advisable to apply heat before and cold packs after exercise on the joints to help reduce pain and inflammation.
Mechanical support devices such as splints, walkers, canes and braces may also be used for osteoarthritis treatment. These devices help reduce stress on the joints. They vary depending on what the affected joint is and the level, intensity and frequency of physical activity a person normally has.
Medications and drugs may also be used as osteoarthritis treatment. Most commonly used are the NSAIDs that act as pain relievers. They act as anti-inflammatory and relieve the patient of pain and inflammation.
Surgery is an osteoarthritis treatment necessary for patients with severe cases of the disease and must only be taken into consideration when all other treatments fail.
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