Osteoarthritis : Tips on Pain Relief and Prevention



Definition:

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints.

Common Name: Arthrosis

There are several stages of osteoarthritis:

Cartilage loses elasticity and is more easily damaged by injury or use.

Wear of cartilage causes changes to underlying bone. The bone thickens and cysts may occur under the cartilage. Bony growths, called spurs or osteophytes, develop near the end of the bone at the affected joint.

Bits of bone or cartilage float loosely in the joint space.

The joint lining, or the synovium, becomes inflamed due to cartilage breakdown causing cytokines (inflammation proteins) and enzymes that damage cartilage further.

Diagnosis:

X-rays of the affected joints can suggest osteoarthritis.

Treatment

Osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but it can be treated. It is important that you get your osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment is the first step in successful management of osteoarthritis. Weight loss and exercise are usually the first treatments recommended. Because of the potential side effects of many drugs that are used for treating osteoarthritis, medication is usually recommended only after weight loss and exercise have not been effective in relieving symptoms. Surgery is recommended only for severe, disabling arthritis that interferes with a person's ability to carry out ordinary daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, or walking up stairs.

Helpful Tips

Healthy diets that contain the required dose of vitamins and minerals help with joint pain relief as well as the natural benefits found from the rays of the sun and that is vitamin D; don't expose to the sun for more then 5 minutes a day for maximum of couple of times a week, as the sun rays also have side
effects such as, skin cancer from the ultra violet rays.

Medications

Most drugs focus mainly on relieving pain, but some are targeted at other symptoms and slowing disease progression. You and your doctor should work together to find the combination of medications that works best for you.

Tramadol, when used alone or in combination with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or acetaminophen, is also effective in relieving pain caused by osteoarthritis.