Osteoarthritis: The Basics and How to Treat It



Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis that affects millions of people around the world. It is a degenerative joint disease that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but it most commonly affects the hands, hips, knees, and spine.

The exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown; however, it is believed to be caused by wear and tear on the joints over time. This could be due to aging or an injury. Other risk factors include obesity and genetics.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain in the affected joints that can range from mild to severe; stiffness in the morning or after periods of rest; tenderness when touched; grating sensation when moving a joint; and limited range of motion in one or more joints. In some cases, there may also be swelling in the affected area as well as visible deformities such as bony bumps on fingers or knuckles.

Treating osteoarthritis depends on its severity and location within your body. Common treatments include lifestyle changes such as losing weight if you are overweight or obese; physical therapy to improve flexibility and strengthen muscles around affected joints; medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief; corticosteroid injections for inflammation reduction; hyaluronic acid injections for lubrication within joints; surgery for severe cases with long-term damage to bones or cartilage tissue surrounding a joint; alternative therapies such as acupuncture, yoga, massage therapy, herbal remedies etc.; heat/cold therapy for temporary relief from pain etc..

It is important to note that although there is no cure for osteoarthritis at this time it can still be managed with proper treatment plans tailored specifically to each individual’s needs by their healthcare provider(s). It’s also important to remember that while these treatments may provide temporary relief they do not address underlying causes which means they will not prevent further damage from occurring over time so regular maintenance visits with your healthcare provider are essential!

Tags:

Osteoarthritis, Joints, Pain, Stiffness, Swelling, Wear and Tear, Aging, Injury, Obesity, Genetics, Symptoms, Treatments (Lifestyle Changes/Physical Therapy/Medications/Corticosteroid Injections/Hyaluronic Acid Injections/Surgery/Alternative Therapies), Heat & Cold Therapy,

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