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Are you looking for tips to help manage osteoarthritis? You aren’t alone, and if you aren’t sure on what osteoarthrithis is we’ll break it down for you.
Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory condition of the joints due to the breakdown of the cartilage that line the joint surfaces, resulting in friction, joint damage, and inflammation. This condition is associated with age, previous joint injury, or excess weight. Here are some tips to manage pain due to osteoarthritis.Read More >
What are causes of hip pain? Many people experience hip pain at one time or another. While this is more common later in life, people of all ages can be effected. Here are three causes of hip pain that one may experience.Read More >
We hear a lot about osteoporosis and occasionally we hear the term “osteoarthritis.” So, what is it? We found this very resourceful article on arthritistoday.org about osteoarthritis. It covers the symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, etc.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It is a chronic condition in which the material that cushions the joints, called cartilage, breaks down. This causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of joint movement. The cause is not fully understood.
About 27 million people in America have osteoarthritis. Common risk factors include increasing age, obesity, previous joint injury, overuse of the joint, weak thigh muscles, and genetics.
Osteoarthritis symptoms usually develop gradually. At first, there may be soreness or stiffness that seems more like a nuisance than a medical concern.
Common symptoms include:
Osteoarthritis, or OA, may also affect the neck, small finger joints, the base of the thumb, ankle, and big toe. The pain may be moderate and come and go, without affecting the ability to perform daily tasks. Some people’s OA will never progress past this early stage. Others will have their OA get worse. The pain and stiffness of more severe osteoarthritis may make it difficult to walk, climb stairs, sleep, or perform other daily tasks.
If you have symptoms of osteoarthritis, the doctor will ask questions about your medical history and perform a physical exam, as well as possibly take X-rays to confirm the diagnosis.
There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but there are medications to help relieve pain, when needed. The doctor may recommend physical therapy (PT) or occupational therapy (OT) to help improve strength and function. When pain is severe and frequent or mobility and daily activities become difficult, surgery may be considered.
Staying physically active and maintaining a healthy weight are the keys to living well with osteoarthritis. Too little movement can lead to stiffness and weak joints. Losing one pound can take four pounds of pressure off your knee joints. Overall fitness improves health in many ways. Strong muscles protect joints. An OA management plan also involves eating a nutritious diet, managing stress and depression, and getting a good balance of rest and activity each day.
Article Source: http://www.arthritis.org/conditions-treatments/disease-center/osteoarthritis/
According to the Journal of Arthritis and Rheumatology, an estimated 27 million adults are living with osteoarthritis. Nearly 50% of seniors aged 65 and older struggle with arthritis. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage that acts as a cushion between your bones wears away, causing them to rub together painfully.
Oftentimes, the symptoms come on over the course of years, beginning as stiffness, limited mobility, and discomfort. Over time, you may lose the ability to rotate, flex or extend your knee or hip.
The most common conventional treatments for osteoarthritis are NSAID pain relievers and surgical knee or hip replacement. Habitual use of NSAID pain relievers can result in the development of stomach ulcers. Knee and hip replacement, while effective, could be risky and entail a long and difficult recovery time.
Treating your osteoarthritis hip and knee pain naturally can help avoid these risks.
According to a study published in Physical Therapy Magazine, physical therapy has been shown to have a positive impact in reducing the risk of disability associated with osteoarthritis. Clinically-treated osteoarthritis patients achieved nearly twice as much improvement in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores than patients who only exercised at home. Physical therapy helps provide pain relief, increase mobility, and preserve function.
The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (JAAOS) conducted a study, which revealed that approximately one half of cases of osteoarthritis of the knee could be eliminated if obesity was no longer a risk factor. Obesity creates a significant increase in adipose tissue, a multifunctional organ that increases inflammatory signals. When you reduce your weight, you reduce your risk for needing knee or hip replacement.
Exercise can help reduce inflammation and increase mobility. Gentle stretching, yoga, water exercises, and walking are good low-impact ways to ease your osteoarthritis symptoms without furthering discomfort.
Regular massage can help reduce the discomfort in your hip and knee. Massage encourages lymphatic drainage, which helps detoxify your body. This helps reduce overall inflammation and improves your circulation. This natural practice also gives you a relaxed feeling of well-being.
Heat and ice therapy can help reduce pain and inflammation as well as help improve your circulation. When pain is accompanied by swelling, use ice 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Once discomfort decreases, gently exercise the area. Afterward, apply heat; 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
A junk-food diet increases inflammation and can worsen your symptoms over time. Instead, slowly wean yourself off these foods and increase your intake of anti-inflammatory foods such as organic vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, poultry, fish, coconut oil, avocado, and walnut.
A study published by The Lancet hailed glucosamine as a “disease-modifying agent” in osteoarthritis. This is because it acts as a building block for mucopolysaccharides (MPSs), which are the major components of cartilage.
The Journal of Orthopedic Research showed that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can help ease osteoarthritis by preventing cellular death and cartilage degeneration. NAC contains high levels of sulfur, which helps fight free radical damage.
Vitamin C has also been shown to help ease osteoarthritis symptoms naturally because of its strong antioxidant content and its ability to help build collagen.
If you’re struggling with the pain of osteoarthritis, turn to these natural remedies. They may help greatly improve your quality of life.
Resources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16305269
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11214126
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19725096
Written by: Jaime Heidel, Rust Built, Marketing Services
Osteoarthritis pain can be very debilitating, is the most common joint disorder, and has unknown causes. It is a condition that is usually seen in older people, in their larger, weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees, and spine.
The smooth cartilage lining of a joint begins to flake and crack through age and general wear and tear. As the cartilage deteriorates, the underlying bone can become thickened and distorted. This can make moving the joint so painful and restricted that the associated muscles are used much less. This leads to the degeneration of the unused muscles.
Pain, swelling, and stiffness can occur at intervals of months or years. Although osteoarthritis pain can be found in several joints, it rarely causes symptoms in more than one or two joints at a time. Pain may gradually become so severe that it disturbs sleep and limits everyday activities.
Swelling can vary from being hardly noticeable to making the joint appear extremely knobby and enlarged. Osteoarthritis pain can be felt directly in the affected joint, or it may transmit to other parts of the body in what is known as referred pain. For example, the front of the thigh or knee may be very painful for someone with osteoarthritis in the hip.
X-rays show some degree of osteoarthritis in most people over 40, whether they have symptoms or not. There are no life-threatening risks and it seldom becomes a serious problem. Certain occupations and sports are more often associated with the development of osteoarthritis, such as ballet or football.
Losing weight can help release some of the strain on weight-bearing joints. Resting frequently or using a cane can help ease pain. Heat is often an easy self-help treatment for joint pain. Most importantly, regular exercise prevents the muscles around the affected joints from becoming weak and minimizes symptoms. Physical therapy including exercise, massage and heat treatments are often recommended. Aspirin or ibuprofen can help relieve pain, but a doctor can prescribe another painkiller.
For severe osteoarthritis pain, an injection of a corticosteroid drug into the joint can help. However, if it is used too often it can be damaging. Joint replacement through surgery can also be common.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disorder characterized by a breakdown of joint cartilage. The most common causes of osteoarthritis are obesity, age, joint injury, and a genetic defect in the joint cartilage. Conventional treatments for osteoarthritis include codeine and corticosteroids. Unfortunately, this approach can cause serious side effects and will not address the underlying cause of the condition.
In the natural treatment of arthritis, diet is crucial. To reduce the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, you must clean up your diet. Eating a minimally-processed anti-inflammatory diet will slow the progression of the disease through sound nutrition and weight loss.
One of the primary nutrients used in the natural treatment of osteoarthritis is vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is also responsible for the formation of two important components of cartilage; collagen and proteoglycans.
Good dietary sources of vitamin C include organic red bell pepper, guava, oranges, broccoli, and green, leafy vegetables. It is recommended that those with osteoarthritis consume 200 milligrams of vitamin C daily.
Foods rich in beta carotene and vitamin D3 are also excellent for those with this debilitating joint condition. Be sure as many foods as possible are organic, fresh and only lightly cooked as overcooking foods reduces their nutritional content.
Slowly wean off of junk food and replace it with healthier fare such as organic vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, chicken, fish, and healthy fats like coconut oil and butter. You should notice a difference within a month.
Probiotics are for more than just regulating your digestive system. They have also been shown to reduce the inflammation associated with this painful condition. Adding a high-quality probiotic supplement to your diet can help boost your immune system, which encourages your body to heal itself naturally.
Omega 3 fatty acids such as krill oil has been shown to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. Krill oil contains a powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin, which destroys the free radicals associated with chronic disease. Studies have shown the effects of omega 3 oil supplementation are felt within the first 7 days with increased results after 14.
Massage therapy is real medicine in the treatment of osteoarthritis and other chronic pain conditions. Massage therapy relaxes muscles, encourages detoxification, improves immune system function, and enhances movement and range of motion. Massage therapy is especially effective when combined with essential oils such as clove or peppermint, as they are natural analgesics.
Acupuncture is an Eastern healing modality that uses fine, hollow-point needles to release energetic “blocks” in the body. While this treatment doesn’t work directly on the osteoarthritis itself, it has been shown to stimulate the immune system and relieve pain and inflammation by helping your body heal itself.
If you or someone you care about is suffering from osteoarthritis, these natural tips can facilitate healing without the side effects associated with prescription drugs.
Dr. Craig A. Maxwell is an Oseteopathic Physician at “AskDr.Maxwell.com”
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About The Author: Dr. Craig A. Maxwell is an osteopathic physician who is board certified in integrative medicine, family medicine and osteopathic medicine. He is available for private phone consultations and will speak with you wherever you are in the world.
Have you noticed that your knees crack or make other noises whenever you walk, bend or stretch. Concerned about what this means, and what you can do to avoid it? Those unnerving sounds, known as crepitus, are probably what you’re hearing. In humans the knees are responsible for supporting nearly your entire body weight. Crepitus may show up unexpectedly, but it does not mean you have an underlying problem. Joint noises have been known to persist for several years without the development of significant problems. Cracking and popping, with no pain, may happen if the knee is slightly out of alignment and rubs against the tissue adjacent to it. However, if the noise occurs on a regular basis with pain, it could mean a more underlying problem. The more you weigh the more stress you put on the knees, which could cause an acute injury and osteoarthritis. Other noises can happen as a result of scar tissue or tendon snapping over a cavitation. Cavitation is vapor cavities that are found within liquid. Quinn (n.d.) explained “Cavitation frequently occurs in synovial joints when a small vacuum forms in the synovial fluid and a rapid release produces a sharp popping or cracking sound.” (Crepitus – Joint Noise Popping and Cracking, para. 2).
According to Brakke (2011) unique symptoms of knee crepitus caused by arthritis include (Crepitus in the Knee, para. 4).
Treatment of Knee Crepitus
As it has been noted cracking and popping sounds with no associated pain should not cause you to worry. Instead try performing conditioning exercises to help strengthen the muscles and joint. The less weight you put on the joint the better. If you are experiencing symptoms other than just cracking and popping in your knees you should seek a medical professional for an examination and x-rays in order to appropriately diagnosis the cause.
Jamacia Magee, Rust Built, Marketing Services
References:
The tread on your tires thins and wears out after miles and miles of usage, right? In a similar fashion, the cartilage—a cushioning shock absorber where our bones come together–may thin and wear out over time, and with years of usage. Here are four simple strategies to keep your joints healthy for as long as you want to use them.
Consult your doctor about taking supplements, such as calcium, vitamin D, glucosamine/chondroitin and fish oil for healthy shock absorbers,…uh…,healthy joints for your lifetime.
Ruby Moseley, Rust Built, Marketing Services