Help for Osteoarthritis

If you have joint pain for more than two weeks, you may be suffering from osteoarthritis. According to Medline Plus, osteoarthritis is the No. 1 cause of disability, affecting more than 20 million Americans. Although there are more than 100 different types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the most common. There is no cure, and so treatments are aimed at providing relief.

What is Osteoarthritis?

• Osteoarthritis is a joint disorder that causes pain and inflammation due to the breakdown of cartilage, which acts as a cushion for the joints. While it can cause pain in any joint, it typically affects the hands, feet, spine, hips and knees.

  When the cause of osteoarthritis is unknown. the condition is called primary osteoarthritis. When it is caused by another condition within the body, it is known as secondary osteoarthritis. The causes of secondary osteoarthritis range from obesity, trauma, prior surgery to affected joints, hormonal disorders, gout, diabetes and family history of arthritis.

  Symptoms of osteoarthritis differ from person to person because the disease varies in severity and progression. One of the main symptoms is pain in the affected joint after use and after inactivity. Other symptoms include swelling, warmth, cracking of joints, tenderness, stiffness, loss of flexibility and bone spurs.

  If you have joint pain, you should see your doctor. Your doctor will perform tests, including blood tests, to rule out other conditions. X-rays and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) results are helpful in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Other diagnostic tools include arthocentesis and arthroscopy.

Treatment for Osteoarthritis

• While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, the goals of treatment are to reduce your pain and inflammation and allow you to maintain a healthy lifestyle. One of the first treatment goals is weight reduction, if you are obese, because extra weight causes pressure on the joints. You also should avoid activities that cause pain. When you experience discomfort, you should rest and apply either heat or ice to the affected joints. Exercise is also very helpful because it maintains flexibility. Physical or occupational therapy also can be very effective.

  There are many different medications that you can try. For mild to moderate osteoarthritis, there are many over-the-counter medications that can help. These include aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and pain rubs. For severe pain, prescription medications that control pain, such as Tramadol, and those that control inflammation, such as Relafen, are available. For severe osteoarthritis, your doctor also may give you cortisone injections into the affected joints. For affected knee joints, injections of hyaluron acid are available from your doctor when other measures do not seem to work.

  Surgery usually is considered as a last resort and is aimed at joint replacement, cleaning out joints, realigning bones or fusing bones.

Alternative Treatment

• While the effectiveness of alternative treatments has not been proven fully, many people have sought relief with these remedies. One such alternative treatment is glucosamine and chondroitin. According to the National Institutes of Health, initial research in the use of glucosamine and chondroitin does show minor relief in patients with osteoarthritis. Studies are continuing and eventually will demonstrate the proper dosing and side effects of this treatment.