What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is the most widespread form of arthritis, affecting millions of people across the United States.
Inflammation in the joints, changes in the bone, deterioration of connective tissues, and loss of cartilage cause pain, swelling, and joint deformity.
Primary osteoarthritis is the most common form of osteoarthritis. It causes general joint pain but is often worse in your:
- Fingers
- Thumbs
- Spine
- Hips
- Knees
- Great toes
Secondary osteoarthritis develops as a result of having some kind of joint abnormality. The abnormality could be something you're born with (congenital) or a genetic condition. It also could be due to an injury from overuse or trauma.
Secondary osteoarthritis also affects people who have inflammatory forms of arthritis, such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis.
Why does osteoarthritis cause joint pain?
Osteoarthritis leads to joint pain because the bones in your joints lose their protective layer of cartilage. This flexible, slippery connective tissue coats the ends of the bones that form your joints. Cartilage prevents friction, as the bones are able to glide over each other without touching.
Cartilage also helps to absorb shock, changing shape under compression to prevent damage from the jarring effect of physical activities. There are no blood vessels in your cartilage, which means it's very slow to heal, and it can't regrow once it’s lost.
Whether the cause is age, overuse, trauma, or anything else, worn away cartilage leaves the bones without protection. They rub together, which causes friction, tissue irritation, and inflammation. The result is steadily worsening joint pain.
What are the treatments for osteoarthritis?
Potential treatments for osteoarthritis include:
- Topical pain medicines
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
- Hot and cold packs
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Braces and orthotics (medical shoe inserts)
- Steroid injections
- IV (intravenous) vitamin infusions
- Viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid injections)
TruWell Health offers the Advanced Arthritis Relief Protocol™ (AARP) to suitable patients. This approach contains many of the above treatments.
It's also important to consider what you can do in your everyday life to improve your health and reduce the strain on your joints.
A healthy diet, successfully managing any chronic health problems, and losing weight if you're overweight or obese can all make a significant difference to your joint health. You might benefit from taking certain dietary supplements, too.
Exercise is vital toward increasing natural joint lubrication and keeping the joints strong and flexible. It might be painful at first, but not exercising accelerates the deterioration in your joints. Go for gentler exercises that don't overstress your joints.
For expert help with the symptoms of osteoarthritis, call TruWell Health today or book an appointment online.
