Osteoarthritis Prevention and Treatment (Day 2)

We’ve talked about different types of arthritis.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

Today we want to look at symptoms of #osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis occurs more in women and can affect any joint.

Are your joints stiff when you wake up but later feel better?

Do they ache so bad and get worse as you use them?

Do you find that you can’t move your joints like before ?

Does it make a sound that embarrasses you?

If yes, it is likely you have osteo arthritis.

One part of the body osteo arthritis affects is the hand. There are different joints on the hand, if you type on a keyboard you will notice your fingers bend at certain points, these are all joints.  osteo arthritis causes swelling of these joints. Symptoms of osteoarthritis may respond to rest and simple analgesics initially but they may worsen and become unresponsive.

What tests are done for osteoarthritis?

If you have the symptoms  described, it will have to be confirmed that it is arthritis and not something else.

Apart from the signs and symptoms, doctors will ask you to do an x-ray of the joint, this x-ray will show a difference between the area where there is a problem and other areas. Other tests are not as useful or necessary. The doctor may also want to take some fluid from the joint to analyse to be sure whether it is an infection or inflammation.

What can you do to prevent osteoarthritis?

Are there ways to prevent or reduce the effect of arthritis? The answer is yes. If you are overweight , it will help if you lose weight as this will reduce the weight your joint has to bear. Also cardiovascular exercises like walking or #resistance exercises are very beneficial; for example, resistance exercises to strengthen the thigh muscles are helpful for people with knee osteoarthritis. Swimming and aquatic exercises are also beneficial. These are little things one can do.

Osteoarthritis Treatment

There are different approaches to treatment.

1. Medical:  here drugs are given, these drugs include drugs and creams for pain, other drugs like #steroids and muscle relaxants my also be used. All these help to reduce the effect of the disease and go a long way in preventing complications. However they don’t cure it.

Taking drugs usually only relieves symptoms

2. Surgery

a) Arthroscopy: Here the joint is viewed with a special instrument any tears found is removed

b) #Arthroplasty or joint replacement: here a metal or plastic is used to replace the joint surface.

Joint replacement generally has a good prognosis but may need to be checked in 10-15 years.

Join me tomorrow for a new topic.

Stay healthy.