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What You Can Do to Treat Osteoarthritis and Promote Bone Health

You are probably reading this because you have received an osteoarthritis diagnosis or know someone who has. You are not alone. Many people battle with this condition, which estimates show to be the most common form of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis can make a person’s daily schedule become somewhat like a nightmare. Getting out of the bed every morning is enough trouble on its own.

Is there a cure for this painful condition? Can you reverse it and improve your quality of life? We discuss the options that are available in this article – both conventional and alternative.

Osteoarthritis Overview

Osteoarthritis is by a wide margin the most common form of arthritis. It is the result of the wear and tear on joints and bones. This means the disorder is degenerative; it worsens with age. This explains why it is also called degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis.

The disease causes damage to cartilage in the body. This makes it capable of potential getting rid of this protective component on the ends of bones at the joints, resulting in excruciating pain.

Osteoarthritis is not viewed as an autoimmune disease, unlike rheumatoid arthritis, which is also common, but significantly less so. However, some experts are starting to think that this order may have an autoimmune dimension to it.

Arthritis from autoimmune disease results from inflammatory response. The immune system attacks the body’s own tissue, cells, and organs in this type of disorder. In the case of arthritis, it targets exposed cartilage as a foreign body, causing inflammation.

It is estimated that some 27 million Americans older than 27 years suffer osteoarthritis. Its incidence increases as people get older in that the disorder gradually worsens with age.

Estimate has it that roughly about 35 percent of people older than 65 years have this disorder in the U.S. This percentage will likely rise as the number of Americans above the age of 65 continues to rise. The disorder is the main cause of joint complaints in adults.

There is no cure for osteoarthritis when it has reached an advanced stage. But the condition is reversible if you commence treatment before the articular cartilage become totally worn.

Reversing Osteoarthritis with Drugs

Traditional medical treatment of osteoarthritis commonly involves the use of prescription and over-the-counter medications. However, to be more precise, drugs don't really reverse this disorder; they only help to manage the pain. They provide assistance in controlling the symptoms.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and aspirin, are commonly used for treating patients. They are available as pills or topical solutions (creams). People with osteoarthritis in their hands or knees will especially find these drugs useful. They fight inflammation as well as reduce pain and swelling.

Patients who do not get much help from paracetamol (acetaminophen) or NSAIDs may be placed on opioids. A very popular one of these is codeine.

Corticosteroid injections may also be advised for patients who haven't seen much improvement from using pain relievers.

A disturbing angle to medication use, however, is that it often comes with safety issues. NSAIDs, for instance, can cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract. As harmless as most people consider it, even acetaminophen may cause liver damage.

Some of these drugs may also not be ideal for people with certain conditions, including angina and peptic ulcer.

Reversing Osteoarthritis with Proper Nutrition

A person's choice of diet goes a long way in determine how healthily they will live. What you eat may predispose you to osteoarthritis or protect you against it. A healthy diet is one of those important things that have been found to be potentially helpful in reversing the disorder.

The ideal diet for an osteoarthritic patient should feature a lot of fish. These, especially the cold-water types, are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to fight inflammation.

This essential fatty acid can also be obtained from meat that comes from grass-fed or pasture-raised animals. You can get it from several nuts and seeds as well.

All kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables will be beneficial to someone looking to reverse osteoarthritis. Foods containing vitamin D, such as raw dairy products, can also be helpful, going by available evidence.

The ideal diet should feature probiotics containing foods, such as yogurt and kefir. Gelatin, which is richly available in bone broth, provides collagen and supports joint health.

Ginger, turmeric and several other herbs, spices and teas may help people with osteoarthritis get better. But there needs to be moderation in consumption.

We should also add that adequate water intake is essential. Water makes up as high as 80 percent of the cartilage.

Sugar should be eliminated from the diet of a person with this condition, if possible. This is a major inflammation promoter.

Processed foods should be avoided as much as possible. Foods that typically cause you to have allergies will also need to be kept off your diet as such can possibly worsen symptoms.

Although we noted that fruit consumption can help, you should not overdo it. Excessively large intake of fruits may actually worsen inflammation.

Reversing Osteoarthritis with Lifestyle Changes

Exercise might sound counterintuitive for people with osteoarthritis, considering the pain and mobility issues. But there is evidence that it can be helpful to patients, regardless of the level of fitness or age. The secret is finding a routine that is suitable or works for you.

Regular exercise helps to enhance your level of activity and keeps muscles and bones in good shape.

It helps to fight inflammation and improves flexibility. It strengthens your joints and builds muscles to improve symptoms. You can preserve the functions of your body parts well into old age with exercise.

Another way exercise can benefit people with osteoarthritis is through reduction in weight. It is indisputable that excess body weight can worsen the pain a patient feels. This places extra strain on affected joints.

You can never go wrong by staying active, with many benefits on offer. Exercise enhances your circulation and can protect against cardiovascular disease. It is potent for fighting stress and promoting quality sleep.

The ideal exercise and duration for each patient will depend on their physical condition and degree of pain. Focus of routines will usually be to fight inflammation, boost circulation, strengthen muscles, and improve flexibility.

Walking and swimming are examples of exercise practically all patients can perform and benefit from with minimal pain. You should work closely with your doctor or a physical therapist on the best types of exercise to do.

If your job involves being in a fixed position for hours on end, you should make effort to stay active. Do something that preserves range of motion. This can be something as simple as stretching your arms or rotating your head at intervals. Endeavor to get up from your seat from time to time.

Reversing Osteoarthritis with Surgery

When talking about conventional medical treatments that may really reverse this disorder, surgery is probably the one that comes to mind. But this is not to say that it will eliminate the symptoms in all cases. Surgery can, however, improve mobility and your quality of life.

Surgery is typically only considered when other treatments, including lifestyle and dietary changes, have failed to help. There are different types, with the most common ones including arthroplasty and osteotomy.

Arthroplasty is another name for joint replacement therapy. It involves the replacement of damaged joints with prosthetic alternatives. The artificial joints will need to be replaced after a number of years. The procedure is mostly often performed to replace knee and hip joints.

Osteotomy is a procedure for people with osteoarthritis in their knees and who are not eligible for knee replacement. This involves the removal or addition of a little bone section above or below the knee joint. This helps to reduce the amount of bodyweight on the damaged portion.

Additional Treatments for Osteoarthritis

There are numerous treatment options for osteoarthritis, perhaps, due to high occurrence and impact on quality of life. We discuss here a few of the other methods that may help reverse or manage the disorder.

Acupuncture

Some patients have found this alternative therapy helpful. It assists in dealing with inflammation and pain in the joints. In addition to arthritis, researchers have found that acupuncture helps with symptoms of neck and back pain. It also fights joint stiffness and muscle aches.

Prolotherapy

Through this, patients can get help in improving weakened connective tissue. Prolotherapy may relieve stress on affected joints and may even help them to heal. The professionals performing this sometimes use injections, including corticosteroids.

Capsaicin creams

There are a number of topical treatments that people with osteoarthritis may find helpful for their condition. Notable among this is capsaicin cream. This contains a compound present in pepper, which has been found to provide pain relief.

When you apply this cream on affected joint, it is thought to block nerves that transmit pain signals. However, it may take some time before noticing considerable improvement.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

Here is a very innovative treatment approach for osteoarthritis. This awesome new treatment aims to promote naturally healing of damaged parts. The success rate is quite impressive – about 3 out of 4 patients get better.

PRP involves the injection of highly concentrated plasma with abundant growth factors into arthritic joints. The injection typically comes from blood obtained from the patient and centrifuged.

This revolutionary treatment is less invasive and takes only minutes to complete. It has practically no downtime.

Homeopathy

A homeopathic professional may also be able to help in reversing osteoarthritis. There are claims that this alternative system of medicine offers some of the most potent solutions for chronic disorders, such as this one. The remedies on offer are most helpful for dealing with periodic episodes of pain.

Supplements

You can be sure to find supplements that supposedly can help reverse osteoarthritis. After all, manufacturers do claim a lot of things, even what they can't deliver.

But this is not just about empty claims. There are certain supplements that may indeed by beneficial to patients. Among such are omega-3 fatty acid containing products. These will be especially perfect for those who are not getting enough of the vital fatty acid from their diet.

Chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate are two supplements that doctors have used for treating patients. They go together in many products. The potency of chondroitin sulfate has been found to improve dramatically when combined with Omega-3 fatty acids.

You can also benefit from supplements containing the turmeric extract curcumin. This boasts very powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. There is research showing that this compound can benefit people with arthritis.

The amino acid metabolite known as SAMe (S-Adenosylmethionine) is also believed to be helpful with its anti-inflammatory properties. It has actually been successfully used for treatment of osteoarthritis.

Best Professionals for Osteoarthritis Treatment

Is your primary care professional the ideal person for treatment of osteoarthritis? It depends.

Your primary care doctor is the first professional you should ideally get in touch with if you suspect osteoarthritis. He will carry out the necessary tests to diagnose the disorder. He may also prescribe medications to deal with pain and other symptoms afterward.

It is possible that your doctor may decide you need the assistance of other experts as well after watching you for some time. The stage of the condition is one of the factors that determine whether specialists should be brought in.

You may be referred to a rheumatologist, or you may request a referral if no progress is visible. This is a professional that has advanced training in musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis. They are better able to make the right diagnosis and deal with tough cases.

Effective medical treatment is more about team work. In addition to your primary care doctor and rheumatologist, other professionals that may be part of your treatment team include:

Orthopedic surgeon
Physiatrist
Physical therapist
Osteopathic physician
Registered nurse

Patients can get quality medical treatment in most top, well-established medical centers or institutes. Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Stanford Health Care, and the Osteoarthritis Clinic at SEMI appear like some good treatment centers worth checking out.

How Do You Prevent Osteoarthritis?

Most of the tips for reversing or treating osteoarthritis can also work to prevent it. Among this is taking measures to improve or maintain range of mobility. Exercise offers a good way of achieving this goal.

You should also make efforts to maintain a healthy weight. It is known that excess body fats increase your risk of developing this condition. Regular exercise and the right diet can help to prevent this and to improve bone and joint health.

Supplement use can potentially be helpful in preventing osteoarthritis. This may help fight inflammation and guard against pain. Improved bone density and enhanced cartilage health are among the possible benefits.

Final Thoughts

Osteoarthritis can be an awful condition that makes your regular daily activities rather daunting. It could even make some of your favorite pastimes less exciting. Such is how it can have adverse effect on the quality of life.

But it is possible to reverse the disorder with some of the methods suggested in this article. This goes against what some medical experts hold to. But there is evidence that you can reverse the damage to the joints that is seen in the condition.

You are likely to be successful in reversing the disorder if you seek help while it is still at the early stages. Dietary and lifestyle changes as well as the use of supplements will play crucial roles in achieving this.

Finally, you will benefit from ensuring you get quality sleep and dealing with stress, depression and anxiety. You give room for inflammation, stress hormones, and body weight to cause problems when you fail to get enough sleep, rest or relaxation.

REFERENCES

5 Natural Degenerative Joint Disease Treatments That Work (https://draxe.com/degenerative-joint-disease/)

Help for Osteoarthritis | DrDeborahMD.com (https://www.drdeborahmd.com/solutions-osteoarthritis)

Osteoarthritis - Treatment - NHS.UK (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/treatment/)

Three Secrets for Reversing Arthritis and Maintaining Healthy Bones and Joints – Nick Delgado (http://www.nickdelgado.com/three-secrets-for-reversing-arthritis-and-maintaining-healthy-bones-and-joints/)

Should You See a Rheumatologist for Osteoarthritis? (https://www.verywell.com/should-you-see-a-rheumatologist-for-osteoarthritis-2552139)

Orthopaedic Surgeon | Osteoarthritis Doctor | Arthritis Doctor (https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/health-care/your-health-care-team/arthritis-doctors.php)