Osteoarthritis
There are more than 100 types of arthritis and the most common is called osteoarthritis. It is a degenerative condition of the joints and can vary in severity from a mild to very severe disabling pain.
It usually begins with the rupture of the flexible tissue of the joint known as cartilage and can cause stiffness or immobility of the joints. Many people can develop osteoarthritis: men and women, the elderly and even children. It is more common for osteoarthritis to affect the knees, hips, spine, and hands .
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CAUSES OF OSTEOATRITIS
Commonly, osteoatritis results from the rupture of flexible joint tissue, known as cartilage. Healthy cartilage allows bones to slide smoothly over each other during movement. But when the cartilage is damaged or worn, the bones rub against each other, causing pain, swelling and loss of joint mobility.
SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
The main symptom of osteoarthritis is joint pain. This can vary from a mild and uncomfortable pain to a severe and disabling pain. Most of the time, this pain appears when using the joint and disappears with time, when resting.
As osteoarthritis progresses, pain may persist when resting and even appear at night when sleeping. Osteoarthritis can cause joint stiffness, hindering the flexibility and the total range of motion of the joints.
TREATMENT FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS
Some of the most important treatments for osteoarthritis are simply a change in attitude and lifestyle. Physical activity and movement, for example, can improve joint mobility and reduce pain. Similarly, changing the diet to help maintain an ideal weight can relieve pressure on many joints.
Because osteoarthritis is a progressive condition, specific treatments for pain relief are usually needed, such as:
- Analgesics such as acetaminophen
- Creams, gels and ointments that can be applied to the skin to help reduce inflammation of the joint
- Supplements such as glucosamine
- NSAIDs that may require a prescription
If you have osteoarthritis, ask your doctor about treatment options. You can also consider the recommendation of other health professionals such as pharmacists, physiotherapists or nutritionists .