The simplest treatment for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis can be very painful. It can also limit the function of the person. It usually affects the knee joints, but can also affect any of the other joints. This is one ofthe most disabling conditions and it usually affects the older people, but can also affect those in the younger age group.

The main treatment that can be given for a person suffering from osteoarthritis, othe than medications, are Physical Therapy. Exercises to maintain the range of motion of the joint are taught. Other than this, the person can also be given pain relief therapy.

Home treatments that can be done by you at home are hot water fomentations and also exercises.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is a systemic disease. There are many joints that are affected in this disease. The joint pain can travel from one joint to another. If there is pain only, then analgesics will help to relieve the pain. Some patients can have associated loss of function and associated deformities. This has to be treated with appropriate Physiotherapy.

Medical Treatment:
Analgesics

Physiotherapy:
Warmth to joint
Prevention of deformities.

Osteoarthritis: Types, causes and treatment

In Osteoarthritis, there is a change in the joint surface due to repeated stress. The stress can be due to increased weight bearing on the area. It can also be due to any previous history of injury. The degenerative changes in the surface of the joint can lead to pain. This pain in turn leads to a loss of function in the joint. So the person slowly stops walking due to the increased pain.

Causes of Osteoarthritis:
Osteoarthritis has two causes:

Primary osteoarthritis: This is caused because of any injury to a joint. This can lead to pain in the joint and also degenerative changes in the joint surface.

Secondary osteoarthritis: This is caused by severe stress on the joint due to old age and also increased weight of the person.

Prevention:
Preventing osteoarthritis cannot be really possible unless a person tries to reduce weight. This will decrease the stress on the joint leading to pain relief. Regular exercise and strengthening of the joints can also help in preventing Osteoarthritis.

Treatment:
There are medical and Physiotherapy management of Osteoarthritis:

Medical treatment:
Pain relieving drugs can be eaten. This will prevent an increase in pain.

Physiotherapy:
Physiotherapy or Physical therapy is a conservative treatment where the pain is relieved by using various heat therapy. Strengthening exercises are also given to reduce the weight bearing on the bony areas by increasing the strength of the muscles.

Surgery:
The recent advancement for the treatment for Osteoarthritis is the joint replacement surgery where the surfaces of the knee or other joints are replaced. This helps to reduce the pain and improve function.