Osteoarthritis
Treatment:
The main goal for arthritis treatment is the reduction of
pain and stiffness. Weight loss and exercise is usually recommended
first for arthritis treatment. If exercise and weight loss
does not effectively reduce the symptoms of arthritis, medication
is usually recommended next. For severe and disabling arthritis
the best option would be surgery.
Weight Loss:
If you are overweight, you are probably putting excess pressure
on your joints and it could increase your risk of having osteoarthritis.
A person already suffering from osteoarthritis and also overweight
at the same time would have an accelerated rate of joint wear
and tear, this condition would worsen the symptoms of arthritis.
Losing weight would help in relieving the strain on your joints
and also reduce the wear and tear on the tissues inside the
joint. You can maintain a healthy weight by eating less and
exercising more often. A healthy diet consisting of foods
that are low in fat and high in fiber should be the bulk of
your diet.
Exercise:
Regular
exercise is very effective in relieving the pain and stiffness
caused by osteoarthritis. Exercise could also help in the
slow progression of this disease. Maintenance of healthy weight
can be achieved easily by exercising regularly. Exercise makes
the muscle that supports the joints stronger and keeps the
joints protected from further damage. Exercise also make your
joints more flexible and enable you to move without pain.
Recommended exercises for people suffering from arthritis
includes a combination of stretching, mild muscle strength
training and low impact aerobics exercise. Example: ( weight
lifting, swimming, walking and cycling. ). Your doctor can
suggest which exercise best suits your need.
Heat
and Cold:
Applying hot and cold compress had been in use for a very
long time in relieving the pain, stiffness and swelling from
osteoarthritis. For some persons, applying heat works for
them while others require cold compress. Apply heat or cold
to affected areas for a maximum application time of 20 minutes.
Wait for the skin temperature to return to normal before reapplying
the hot or cold compress. Generally, heat is used to relax
the muscles and a hot shower in the morning works well for
most people with arthritis. Application of cold compress near
a joint reduces pain by numbing that area. You can use ice
or reusable cold packs. Do not apply ice directly on the skin
because it can cause blistering.
Medication:
When weight loss and exercise is not effective in reducing
the symptoms of osteoarthritis, the doctor may recommend medications.
These medications are used to reduce the pain and tenderness
of the joints. Topical pain relievers have lesser side effects
compared to oral medications. Some of these topical medication
creams contain salicylates and capsaicin. Topical creams need
to applied for at least 3 to 4 times daily and they should
be used regularly.
Analgesics
- the typical analgesic medication that is prescribed by doctors
is acetaminophen. Acetaminophen does not cause stomach irritation
unlike aspirin. It can be used by older people who have suffered
ulcers or have bleeding problems.
NSAIDs
- this medication can relieve pain and they can also reduce
inflammation as well. Examples of NSAIDs are the following
aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. NSAIDs can cause stomach
irritation when used for several months or longer.
Corticosteroids
- these are artificial or man-made compounds related to a
naturally occurring hormone on the body known as cortisone.
Corticosteroids reduce pain and inflammation. They can be
injected directly to the affected joint. Corticosteroids can
only be given for only a few times a year since they can cause
damage to bones and cartilage.
Surgery:
This procedure is only done in severe and disabling cases
of arthritis in which other treatments have failed. Most people
with osteoarthritis would never need surgery but if your doctor
recommends that you need surgery it would be a good idea to
get a second opinion from another doctor.
Joint
Replacement - today we have artificial devices
that can replace almost any joint in the body. Joint replacement
is usually done in repairing the joints of the hips and knees
but it can also be used to repair the joints of the ankles,
fingers, wrists and toes. A good and successful joint replacement
would relieve joint pain and it can restore most of the movement
of the joint. The recovery time from joint replacement is
from 3 to 6 months.
Arthrodesis - this procedure immobilizes
a joint and it is done by inserting metal or plastic screws
to hold the joint in place. Arthrodesis is only done when
the pain from osteoarthritis is very severe that immobilizing
the joint offers an improvement. Arthrodesis is usually done
on smaller joints like the joints of the toes and fingers.
Osteotomy - bone removal or bone
cutting is not frequently performed in people with severe
osteoarthritis. This technique is performed on a joint wich
is unevenly damaged by arthritis. Uneven damage on the joint
can put higher stress on the cartilage and would eventually
cause further damage. The surgeon would remove a small part
of bone near the affected joint area, this procedure realigns
the bone and makes the contact between the healthy areas of
the cartilage in the joint much better. Osteotomy is ideal
for younger people with arthritis since it can delay the use
of joint replacement surgery for several years.
Arthroscopy - is a procedure used
for diagnosing and sometimes for repairing joints. Arthroscopy
is often performed on the joints of the knees and shoulders.
The doctor performing arthroscopy would use a long viewing
tube with a tiny video camera known as the arthroscope. The
arthroscope is inserted via a small incision in the skin over
the affected joint. With this device, the doctor can inspect
any tissue damage and can make the necessary repairs. He can
also use then tube to remove damaged areas of the cartilage
or dislodged cartilage particles that are causing irritation.
References:
Keystone E, Choy EH, Kalden J et al. CDP870, a novel, pegylated,
humanized TNF-A inhibitor is effective in treating the signs
and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). American College
of Rheumatology, 64th Annual Scientific Meeting. Abstract.
San Francisco, CA. November/11/2001.
Bathon JM, Martin RW, Fleischmann RM, et al. A comparison
of etanercept and methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid
arthritis. N Engl J Med. 2000;343:1586-1593.
Markenson JA. Worldwide trends in the socioeconomic impact
and long-term prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Semin Arthritis
Rheum. 1991;21:4-12.
Allaire SH, Prashker MJ, Meenan RF. The costs of rheumatoid
arthritis. Pharmacoeconomics. 1994;6:513-522.
Page
last updated: May 02, 2008
|
