Osteoarthritis: Understanding its origins, manifestations, and remedies
Osteoarthritis (OA), often referred to as wear and tear arthritis, is a common joint condition affecting millions worldwide. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the back or neck, and crunching or grinding noises when moving the back or neck. Although there is no definitive test to diagnose OA, doctors typically ask about symptoms and perform a physical examination, supported by tests such as X-rays, MRI scans, joint fluid analysis, blood tests, and ultrasound to reveal damage and rule out other causes.
The management of OA focuses on reducing pain, improving joint mobility, and slowing progression through a comprehensive approach that combines non-surgical and surgical treatment options, tailored to the severity of the condition and individual patient needs.
Weight loss is a significant factor in reducing stress on weight-bearing joints such as the knee, helping to reduce pain and slow disease progression. Activity modification is also crucial, with high-impact activities that exacerbate joint damage being avoided, and low-impact exercises recommended instead.
Physical therapy and exercise play a vital role in OA management. Strengthening muscles around affected joints improves joint stability and reduces pain. Low-impact aerobic exercises, such as swimming, cycling, walking, and hydrotherapy, maintain joint mobility without overloading joints. Flexibility and stretching routines, like yoga, tai chi, and gentle stretching, improve range of motion and reduce stiffness.
Pharmacological management includes over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and naproxen, which reduce inflammation and pain, and acetaminophen for mild pain but without targeting inflammation. Corticosteroid injections, viscosupplementation injections, and topical treatments such as creams with capsaicin may also provide symptom relief.
Assistive devices, such as braces, canes, and shoe inserts, offer physical support and offload stress from affected joints, improving function and reducing pain. In severe cases, joint replacement surgery, considered the gold standard, may be considered when conservative measures fail, especially in advanced joint degeneration.
Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin, may benefit some patients, although evidence varies.
It is essential to note that there is currently no cure for OA. However, treatment can help manage pain and swelling, keeping a person mobile and active. OA can affect various parts of the body, including the knees, hips, hands, lower back, and neck.
Bone spurs or osteophytes can form on the joints in people with OA, and symptoms typically appear in people over 50. OA in the neck results from the degeneration of joints, vertebrae, and spinal discs, causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation.
In summary, a multidisciplinary approach emphasising weight management, physical therapy, medications, and mechanical support offers the best chance of reducing pain, improving joint mobility, and slowing the progression of OA. Surgery is reserved for advanced cases.
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