Treatment For Osteoarthrits - What You Can Do

Osteoarthrtis is the most common arthritis that people suffer from. There are many causes of osteoarthritis (though its mostly from wear and tear on your joints). Here we will help discuss treatment for the condition. Below we will look at the causes and warning signs before discussing prevention and treatment options.

The cause of osteoarthritis is a breakdown in the cartilage of bones. There is often an excess of fluid in the joints that will cause an inflammation. The inflammation then leads to the pain experienced in the joints. The breakdown in cartilage can be as a result of heredity, excess weight, joint injury or disease.

In some cases of osteoarthritis the cartilage will disappear from the joint entirely causing the two bones to rub together causing more bone damage. Osteoarthritis occurs in the hips, knees, hands, and spine. Osteoarthritis can also lead to weakened muscles and joint disfiguration.

The common symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain, stiffness, and swelling around the joints. The signs will usually last more than two weeks. If the pain is persistent it is time to visit a physician for more advanced treatment than over the counter anti inflammatory drugs.

Prevention:

Exercise of the joints and muscles surrounding the area can help you to prevent osteoarthritis. Exercise will reduce the pain and help to prevent further joint damage you may be experiencing. The exercise you do should be specific for less strain on the joints. Maintaining a proper weight will also help to prevent the arthritis. Swimming or walking is a low impact exercise for joints which will help you maintain your healthy weight as well as exercise the joints.

Having a healthy diet will also help maintain a healthy weight and thereby prevent osteoarthritis. The last prevention is cracking the joints in which gasses can become trapped. It also helps alleviate any strain on the joints you may feel. The old school of thought that cracking your knuckles will cause arthritis is very far from the actual truth. By alleviating pressure in the joints from the gasses you are allowing more space.

Drugs:

Medications like acetaminophen can be found over the counter. They do relieve the pain, but not the inflammation. It can be of help to you in managing the pain, but other medications or treatment should be sought. Codeine is a stronger pain reliever if acetaminophen is not helping manage the pain.

Creams and gels will provide temporary relief by acting as either heat or cold to distract from the pain, rather than reduce inflammation. Nonsteroidal drugs or NSAIDS will reduce the pain and swelling from stiffness.

Cortisone injections will be directly injected into the joint area where there is inflammation. It will relieve the nerves and reduce inflammation allowing you to feel better.

Surgery:

Surgery is an extreme method to alleviate the inflammation and pain. Surgery is often recommended when the joint becomes badly damaged by the osteoarthritis. In this case they may remove cartilage from the joint to help repair the bone. In some cases you might have a replacement of the entire joint.

Natural Supplements:

Natural supplements may also reduce the inflammation and pain you experience. Glucosamine is one of the most common natural supplements. It can be found in shrimp, lobster and crab. It will slow a deterioration of the cartilage. MSM occurs in fruit and vegetables. MSM is another natural supplement that will reduce pain and inflammation.