What is the treatment for osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a bothersome condition that makes life uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it’s more common than you think. Most people associate it with aging, but it can affect anyone at any age. According to the magical and definitely not made-up statistics department, nearly 27 million Americans suffer from OA alone.

So what exactly is osteoarthritis? Well in non-doctor talk (I’m trying to be polite here), it’s when your joints’ cartilage starts wearing out like an old sock. It’s sort of like tread-wear on shoes that gets worse over time; eventually leading to bone rubbing against another bone (ouch!).

If you’re reading this article for helpful remedies because you know someone who has OA or maybe even yourself (we don’t judge), surely something good will come out so keep reading.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Before we make our way into treatment options first let’s identify symptoms of OA which are:

  • Joint stiffness
  • Pain during movement
  • Decreased range of motion 
  • Tenderness when pressed upon 
  • Swelling around the joint area.

The severity depended on how advanced the condition may have become with eventual immobility becoming a possibility if left untreated.

Treatment Options

The level at which an individual experiences these symptoms would determine appropriate “treatment” i.e., reducing pain through medication, staying active by regular exercise and physical therapy programs alongside minimising stress placed on affected areas via specific lifestyle changes- ‘the usual suspects’. But wait some treatments come with other consequences such as side effects from meds leaving one questioning whether it was worth taking them in lieu of their initial discomfort?

Traditional medications v/s Dietary Suppliments

In conventional medicine, anti-inflammatory medication containing analgesics e.g ibuprofen usually provide some relief however long term usage of these medications increases the risk of heart disease and other medical issues. How ironic right? What’s more exciting is that dietary supplements such as Glucosamine extracts, Chondroitin Sulfate may provide better healing for joint pains however scientific testing on this matter has resulted in contentious results plus side effects ranging from digestive disturbances to overall toxicity have been reported.

In addition to prescribed or over-the-counter medication and supplements some have found natural treatments beneficial including acupuncture, herbal supplements or aromatherapy though we would advocate for research before trying new routes.

Exercise & Physical Therapy

Stretching routines tailored specifically towards improving flexibility paired alongside simple exercise routines are essential options toward maintaining range of motion with minimal damage done toward existing inflamed areas.
Physical therapy practiced through various exercises under professional monitoring help build muscle strength, eventually reducing pain experienced from osteoarthritis.

A complete physical activity regimen helps combat OA related symptoms and strengthening muscles/tendons even preventing the onset or can be adopted as preventative plan inclusive of mild low-impact aerobics sessions like swimming or biking (talk about a win-win).

Hyaluronic Acid Injections

If you’re looking at minimally invasive procedures vis hyaluronic acid injections which help restore ‘slickness,’ aiding bones to glide without friction against each other make sense. The gel-like substance manufactured inside human joints thus thin injection needles mean negating needles incisions with injections usually lasting between 6 months -1 year but its effectiveness depends solely on individual cases.

Surgical Options

Surgery is considered when non-surgical treatment methods do not deliver expected results whereby surgery types include: Joint resurfacing; used mostly for smaller weight-bearing joints where damaged cartilage gets repaired using bone grafts allowing new ones to grow back .Joint Fusion involves no additional replacements rather existing bone structure fused together stopping movement altogether still providing stability while Osteotomy finding use in deformities seen in limbs where bone gets realigned though at risk of further disfiguration over time. Arthroscopy is an invasive process that’s the most intrusive outta other surgical procedures commonly used to remove debris or excess cartilage.

Conclusion

OOOOOF, it’s a lot right? We know that all of this could be daunting, but trust us; there are solutions to this dreadful condition. Through simple stretching exercises targeted towards flexibility and tailor made physical therapy sessions offered under professional guidance top alternatives include options as illustrated above thus creating relief from painful osteoarthritis systems turning discomfort upside down sooner rather than later so you can get back to doing what we do best – enjoying life one day at a time!

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