| ">Osteoarthritis â What it is and how to treat it. | | | | at birth, gout and diabetes. |
| Arthritis describes a wide range of conditions (over | | | | While there is no cure at present for Osteoarthritis, |
| 100). These can range from relatively mild forms e.g. | | | | there are a number of ways of managing this |
| tendonitis through to various crippling forms of | | | | condition to minimise the symptoms. |
| systemic arthritis such as Rheumatoid Arthritis. There | | | | There are different types of medicines which may be |
| are also some forms of arthritis for example Gout | | | | used depending upon the type of Osteoarthritis the |
| which most people donât associate with | | | | patient is suffering from. |
| arthritis at all. | | | | Analgesics |
| A significant number of people also think that arthritis is | | | | This is often the first medication prescribed to relieve |
| just a condition which old people suffer, and indeed, it is | | | | the symptoms of Osteoarthritis. It is a pain reliever and |
| true that a significant number of the sufferers of | | | | does nothing to reduce the level of inflammation so |
| arthritis are old, but there is an awful lot of younger | | | | can usually be safely taken alongside other medication. |
| people who suffer from one form or another of | | | | However, as with all medication, there are limits on |
| Arthritis. | | | | how much a person can safely taken within a time |
| Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of | | | | period. |
| Arthritis affecting around 1 in 10 people to some | | | | Creams and Gels |
| degree. It affects both men and women equally. | | | | These may provide some temporary pain relief, |
| Osteoarthritis is caused by bits of cartilage in the joint | | | | however, the pain relief will be localised to the area |
| which have broken free. This can cause pain and | | | | that the cream is applied. |
| swelling in the joint. This pain and swelling is | | | | Codeine Preparations |
| Osteoarthritis. | | | | Codeine is a narcotic which reduces the |
| Osteoarthritis occurs in the joints, however, it is | | | | patientâs sensitivity to pain. They can usually |
| predominantly found in hands and load bearing joints | | | | be taken in conjunction with Analgesics. In low doses, it |
| such as hips, knees. It is described as a | | | | can be taken without prescription. A side effect of |
| non-inflammatory type of arthritis which means that | | | | taking Codeine is that it may cause Constipation. |
| there is no swelling in the joint affected by | | | | Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) |
| Osteoarthritis. This has been subsequently proven not | | | | This type of medicine helps to reduce the inflammation |
| to be the case. In the early stages of Osteoarthritis, it | | | | if taken at a high dosage. If taking a low dosage, then |
| is true that there is no swelling in the joint, however, in | | | | they will just relieve the pain. However, they do not |
| the later stages, there can be swelling. | | | | stop further damage to the joint. NSAIDâs |
| As the Osteoarthritis develops, bits of the cartilage in | | | | donât start working and may require regular |
| the joint break off and float around inside the joint. This | | | | doses over a few weeks before they noticeable |
| disturbs other soft tissues within the joint causing pain | | | | improvement takes place. There are some common |
| and swelling. Over time, as the condition develops, the | | | | side effects including stomach upset, diarrhoea and |
| cartilage becomes rougher and thinner causing the | | | | abdominal pain. |
| bone underneath to become thicker. | | | | Corticosteroids |
| The main symptoms of Osteoarthritis are painful and | | | | This medicine is injected directly into the affected joint. |
| stiff joints. Although this can vary depending upon | | | | When Osteoarthritis has developed so far that the |
| which joint is affected. The stiffness is usually worse in | | | | patient struggles to get around, then this medicine is a |
| the morning, sometimes taking up to 30 minutes for the | | | | viable option. Cortisone is a steroid which reduces |
| stiffness to disappear. This stiffness may also occur | | | | inflammation and swelling. This medicine provides |
| after a period of resting that joint and may take a few | | | | almost instant relief although it can only be taken rarely |
| minutes for it to disappear once the joint starts to be | | | | as it takes away minerals from the existing cartilage |
| used again. | | | | causing further damage. |
| Another symptom of Osteoarthritis is a creaking or | | | | Also, depending upon what type of Osteoarthritis you |
| grinding noise which occurs when the joint is moved. | | | | are suffering from, it is possible certain forms of |
| Also, moving the joint through a full range of | | | | exercise may relieve some of the symptoms and |
| movement may not be possible. | | | | enable the sufferer to continue to live as normal a live |
| If the Osteoarthritis has been present for a significant | | | | as possible. |
| period of time, the muscles may become weaker | | | | As with taking any medicine, you should always read |
| through insufficient use as the patient subconsciously | | | | the instructions supplied with them and follow any |
| avoids using that joint. Also, the joint may appear | | | | advice given by your doctor. You should always seek |
| swollen caused by bony growths called osteophytes | | | | professional medical attention and not simply rely on |
| or extra synovial fluid. | | | | your own research before embarking upon a course |
| The severity of these symptoms can be related to the | | | | of treatment. |
| patientâs daily activity, anxiety and depression. | | | | Osteoarthritis is a very common arthritic condition for |
| Primary Osteoarthritis is mostly related to ageing. As | | | | which we have no cure, although there are many |
| we get older, the water content of cartilage increases | | | | ways of relieving the symptoms so that the patient |
| and the protein makeup of it degenerates. Repetitive | | | | can lead as normal a life as possible. For more |
| use of the joints over the years will irritate and inflame | | | | information on Osteoarthritis, visit my site Arthritis Relief |
| the cartilage. Eventually the cartilage starts to flake | | | | where hopefully you will find some information which |
| away causing crevasses. In some advanced cases, | | | | will be informative and interesting. |
| the cartilage has disappeared. The loss of the cartilage | | | | Report this article |
| means that the bones which the cartilage is protecting | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| can bump and grind against each other leading to pain | | | | Source: |
| and joint immobility. Inflammation of the cartilage can | | | | Republish this article |
| lead to bony outgrowths (spurs) appearing around the | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
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| Secondary Osteoarthritis is caused by other conditions | | | | oxygen in the tissues)? Need to know ASAP!!! |
| which lead to Osteoarthritis. These can be things such | | | | >> I am glad I sent this letter I found this situation |
| as obesity where the joints are placed under more | | | | to be a very upsetting |
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