Osteoarthritis – What is it, Symptoms and Treatments

Osteoarthritis – What is it, Symptoms and Treatment with Medication. In addition, Osteoarthritis , also called osteoarthritis, is a disease that attacks the joints , mainly promoting the wear of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones, but which also damages other joint components such as ligaments, synovial membrane and fluid. synovial

The articular cartilage has the function of promoting the sliding, without friction, between two bony ends during the movement of a joint .

Its impairment can generate pain, swelling and functional limitation. Although it can damage any joint in the body, osteoarthritis most commonly affects the joints of the hands, spine, knees and hips .

Osteoarthritis gets progressively worse over time, and there is no cure . But treatments can slow the progression of the disease, relieve pain and improve joint function.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms:  Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints. Unlike many other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus, osteoarthritis does not affect other organs in the body.

• The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is pain in the affected joints. Joint pain usually gets worse later in the day
• Swelling, heat, creaking and limited movement in the affected joints are also common symptoms.
• Joint stiffness can also occur after long periods of inactivity, for example, when the individual remains seated in a chair.

The intensity of osteoarthritis  symptoms varies greatly from patient to patient. Some patients may be debilitated by their symptoms. On the other hand, others may have few symptoms despite joint degeneration seen on radiography. Symptoms can also be intermittent. It is not uncommon for patients with osteoarthritis  of the hands and knees to go years without symptoms.

Knee osteoarthritis is often associated with obesity, a history of repeated injuries and/or joint surgery. In the knees, Arthrosis can lead to deviations popularly called pliers legs, when the deviation is outwards, or “X” knees, when the deviation is inwards.

Osteoarthritis of the spine causes pain in the neck, back, or lower back . Parrot beaks that form along the spine can irritate the spinal nerves, causing pain, numbness, and tingling in the upper or lower limbs, depending on their location.

When it affects the fingers, Arthrosis causes the formation of hard nodules in the small joints, causing deformations. The appearance of these knots in the fingers helps in the diagnosis of Osteoarthritis .

Main Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis: In summary, the main risk factors for Osteoarthritis are:

• Age.
• Women.
• Obesity.
• Not having osteoporosis (strong bones in old age increase the risk of osteoarthritis ).
• Occupation (work that strains the joints chronically).
• High impact sports activities.
• Joint trauma.
• Muscle diseases.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Bone deformities.
• Diabetes Mellitus.

Therapies to Treat Osteoarthritis:  The combined approach to treatment often works best. Your doctor may suggest:

• Physical Therapy: The physical therapist will create an individualized exercise regimen that will strengthen the muscles around the affected joint , increase range of motion, and reduce pain.
• Occupational Therapy: An occupational therapist can help you figure out ways to do everyday tasks or do your job without stressing your already painful joints.

If conservative treatments don’t help, you may want to consider other procedures, such as:

• Cortisone injections: Injections of corticosteroid medications can relieve joint pain. During this procedure, the doctor anesthetizes the area around your joint , then places a needle inside the joint and injects medication. The number of cortisone injections you can get each year is limited, because the medication can worsen joint damage over time.
• Hyaluronic Acid Injections: Injections of hyaluronic acid derivatives can offer pain relief by providing some cushioning in your joint . These agents are similar to components normally found in your joint fluid.

Medications To Treat Osteoarthritis:  There is no known cure for osteoarthritis , but medications can help reduce pain and maintain joint movement and function :

• Artoglyco
• artrive
• artrosyl
• bioflac
• Ceftriaxone Disodium
• Ceftriaxone Sodium
• ketoprofen
• chondroflex
• dexalgen
• Diclofenac Cholestyramine
• dolamin
• Feldene
• meloxicam
• Meticorten
• nimesulide

Only a doctor can tell you which drug is most suitable for you, as well as the correct dosage and duration of treatment. Always follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter and NEVER self-medicate. Do not stop using the drug without consulting a doctor first, and if you take it more than once or in much larger amounts than prescribed, follow the instructions on the package insert.

How to Prevent Osteoarthritis:  Primary osteoarthritis cannot be prevented, as it is a reflection of joint degeneration that happens over time. In the case of secondary osteoarthritis , measures such as adequate disease control and weight loss can help prevent it. Here are some tips to prevent Osteoarthritis :

• Do exercises
• Take a rest
• control your weight
• Avoid spending too much time in the same position
• Take the medications prescribed by the doctor
• Ask for help if and when you need it

Home Moves: Some home moves may involve, such as:

• Replace round knobs and faucets with handle-shaped ones, which facilitate movement
• Using Velcro instead of buttons on clothes
• Using a cart to carry heavy objects
• Use adapters on hand tools such as forks and knives. It is worth lining them with those spaghetti used in the pool, just introduce the object inside the spaghetti and peel it until it reaches the ideal diameter for the footprint.
• Using electric toothbrushes and knives
• Put bars in the bathroom
• Avoid using rugs
• Avoid bar soaps, which can fall to the floor more easily.