Osteoarthritis Pain Relief - What Treatment Options Are Available?

Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the cartilage that protects and cushions the joints breaks down over time. Osteoarthritis pain relief is necessary for the resultant pain. The bones at the joints are separated by soft tissue; cartilage; in osteoarthritis or OA, the cartilage is destroyed and the bones begin to rub against each other causing pain and swelling at the concerned joint. This pain will curtail movement and eventually, the bones rubbing against each other, will resulting in damage to the tissue and underlying bone causing painful joint symptoms.

Overtime the joint will become deformed, there will be cracking of the joint upon movement, stiffness and muscles weakness usually at the joint that is affected because of non use. OA can affect the hips, knees, hands, neck and lower back. Although formerly classified as non-inflammatory type of arthritis, osteoarthritis has been found to have some swelling but not in all cases.

It is not known exactly what causes osteoarthritis but researchers have found that genetics, overweight individuals, joint injury and previous arthritis attack play a role in the onset of osteoarthritis.

If you have OA then you are wondering about treatment options for OA, it is not very encouraging as it is incurable, but that does not mean that you cannot live your life as fully as any OA person. A few easy to do things will help you maintain a normal lifestyle; exercise maintains flexibility and mobility in the joints. Swimming and walking are easy to do exercises that will keep your will strengthen muscles and joints and relief stress on joint. You can also use cold or heat compresses to the joints. It is also recommended that you lose weight as it removes the extra pressure on the joint especially the lower joints. For most mild cases however painkillers like Tylenol will do the job. In the more severe cases you might need surgery to replace damaged knee or hip joints. Also steroid injections to the joint may be needed. Elsewhere you can take nutritional supplements like chondroitin and glucosamine can provide pain relief and help regrow the cartilage. They are found in the cartilage in normal joints, glucosamine is extracted from shell fish cover and chondroitin from shark or cow cartilage. You can also use certain devices to help you live a fuller life. Insoles in your shoes are recommended for knee OA can help balance weight equally and so reduce the strain on the knee. Other devices may be braces, splints and canes depending on the condition. Viscosupplementation is a treatment option that involves injecting a gel-like substance is injected into the knee. This substance lubricates the cartilage thereby reducing pain and allowing greater movement of the knee.

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