Sports injuries. OA and your job. A heavy matter. Bleeding and OA. What comes next? Read this next. Osteoarthritis Complications. Medically reviewed by Nancy Carteron, M. Causes of and Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis. What Is Erosive Osteoarthritis? Medically reviewed by Angela M. Synvisc vs. Hyalgan: Is There a Difference? Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.
Medically reviewed by Timothy Gossett, M. Osteoarthritis Medications List. It was obvious then that there were only certain things that I could go on, but I did a Pilates class once a week and that was good for flexibility. You can then walk a bit further over the course of a few days or weeks. After three weeks with Shane, I could already walk upstairs without any pain. Once I got started, I became curious about how much I could do.
It can be a vicious circle; if I seize up, I find it harder to start exercising again! As well as becoming more active, I decided to take a good look at what I was eating. I started eating only good food and got rid of all the rubbish. I feel so much better. Set yourself realistic targets and just keep pushing yourself a little bit more. You can read more of our supporter stories on our Your stories page. Osteoarthritis OA. Download osteoarthritis information booklet. Print this page.
What is osteoarthritis? Watch our video about what osteoarthritis is. For example: Extra bone may form at the edge of the joint. These bony growths are called osteophytes and can sometimes restrict movement or rub against other tissues.
In some joints, especially the finger joints, these may be visible as firm, knobbly swellings. The lining of the joint capsule called the synovium may thicken and produce more fluid than normal, causing the joint to swell. Tissues that surround the joint and help to support it may stretch so that after a time the joint becomes less stable.
Related information. The affected joint may sometimes be swollen. The swelling may be: hard and knobbly, especially in the finger joints, caused by the growth of extra bone soft, caused by thickening of the joint lining and extra fluid inside the joint capsule. How will osteoarthritis affect me? Which joints are affected? What tests are there for osteoarthritis? Managing symptoms. These include: lifestyle changes pain relief medications physical therapies supplements and complementary treatments.
Physical activity Weight loss and diet Medications Other pain relief treatments Complementary medicine for osteoarthritis Surgery.
Physical activity. There are three types of exercise you should try to include: Range of movement exercises These exercises involve taking joints through a range of movement that feels comfortable and then smoothly and gently easing them just a little bit further.
Strengthening exercises These are exercises performed against some form of resistance to strengthen the muscles that move and support your joints. Aerobic exercise This means any physical activity that raises your heart rate and gets you breathing more heavily. Weight loss and diet. Capsaicin cream Capsaicin cream is made from the pepper plant capsicum and is an effective painkiller.
Paracetamol Paracetamol is usually recommended as the safest type of pain relief tablet to try first. If you need them, your doctor may prescribe: higher doses of ibuprofen stronger NSAIDs such as naproxen or diclofenac a newer type of NSAID, such as celecoxib or etoricoxib, designed to reduce the risk of ulcers and bleeding in the gut.
These are normally only used for very short periods because they have a higher risk of side-effects. Steroid injections Injections of a long-acting steroid may be given directly into a particularly painful joint, especially the knee or thumb. Other pain relief treatments. Complementary medicine for osteoarthritis.
Below are a few of the supplements often used by people with osteoarthritis. Glucosamine Glucosamine is found naturally in the body in structures such as ligaments, tendons and cartilage. Fish oils Fish oils and fish liver oils are widely believed to be good for the joints.
Complementary treatments There are a number of different treatments available and they can generally be used alongside prescribed or over-the-counter medicines.
Some of the most popular therapies are listed here: Acupuncture claims to restore the natural balance of health by inserting fine needles into specific points in the body to correct imbalances in the flow of energy.
The Alexander technique teaches you to be more aware of your posture and to move with less physical effort. Aromatherapy uses oils obtained from plants, which can be vaporised, inhaled, used in baths or a burner, or as part of an aromatherapy massage. Massage can loosen stiff muscles, ease tension, improve muscle tone, and increase the flow of blood. Osteopaths and chiropractors manually adjust the alignment of the body and apply pressure to the soft tissues of the body.
The aim is to correct structural faults, improve mobility, relieve pain and allow the body to heal itself. The options include: joint replacement surgery keyhole surgery techniques to wash out loose fragments of bone and other tissue from your knee — this is called arthroscopic lavage and is normally only available privately in the UK joint fusion — where the bones in a joint are fixed together surgically — this prevents movement of the joint, and therefore pain.
Tips for managing pain. A rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in arthritis and other related conditions, can help if there are any questions about the diagnosis. There is no cure for OA, so doctors usually treat OA symptoms with a combination of therapies, which may include the following:. In addition to these treatments, people can gain confidence in managing their OA with self-management strategies. These strategies help reduce pain and disability so people with osteoarthritis can pursue the activities that are important to them.
These five simple and effective arthritis management strategies can help. Some people are concerned that physical activity will make their arthritis worse, but joint-friendly physical activity can actually improve arthritis pain, function, and quality of life.
Learn more about how important physical activity is for people with arthritis and how to exercise safely. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. If your symptoms are slightly different, this may indicate another joint condition. For example, prolonged joint stiffness in the morning can be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.
Further tests — such as X-rays or blood tests — are not usually necessary, but may be used to rule out other possible causes, such as rheumatoid arthritis or a fractured bone. Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and cannot be cured, but it doesn't necessarily get any worse over time and it can sometimes gradually improve. A number of treatments are also available to reduce the symptoms. If your symptoms are more severe, you may need additional treatments such as painkillers and a structured exercise plan with a physiotherapist.
In a small number of cases, where these treatments haven't helped or the damage to the joints is particularly severe, surgery may be done to repair, strengthen or replace a damaged joint. As osteoarthritis is a long-term condition, it's important you receive support to help you cope with any issues such as reduced mobility, and advice on any necessary financial support.
Some people may find it helpful to talk to their GP or others who are living with osteoarthritis, as there may be questions or worries you want to share. Find out more about living with osteoarthritis. It's not possible to prevent osteoarthritis altogether. However, you may be able to minimise your risk of developing the condition by avoiding injury and living a healthy lifestyle.
Avoid exercise that puts strain on your joints and forces them to bear an excessive load, such as running and weight training. Instead, try exercises such as swimming and cycling, where the strain on your joints is more controlled.
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