Managing the Pain of Osteoarthritis

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Article Title: Managing the Pain of Osteoarthritis

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Please consider this free-reprint article written by:

Kamau Austin

© Copyright 2005 Kamau Austin DBA AdPro Media Sales

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Managing the Pain of Osteoarthritis

Copyright © 2005 Kamau Austin,

http://www.healthandfitnessvitality.com

The Mayo Clinic refers to osteoarthritis as a " wear and tear "

condition that effects people as they age. It is a degenerative

disease and is the most common form of arthritis. It is one of

the most common causes of disability among adults. More than 20

million people in the United States have the disease. Researchers

project that in the next 25 years over 20% of Americans-beyond

the age of 65 will be at risk for osteoarthritis.

Today, more than half of the population age 65 or older would

show x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis in at least one joint.

Both men and women have the disease with more men getting the

disease before age 45, and more women getting the disease after

that point.

Osteoarthritis may affect any joint in the body and it is

characterized by a breakdown in the cartilage between the

joints. The most common joints affected are the hips, knees,

lower back, fingers and feet.

Osteoarthritis often develops slowly and quite often there are

no symptoms. A person affected with the disease may not know

that they have it until it is revealed during a routine x-ray.

People with osteoarthritis may have one or more of the

following symptoms.

- Pain in a joint during or after use; or after a period of

inactivity, such as after a night's sleep.

- Pain in a joint during a change in weather.

- Swelling or pain in a joint, after use.

- Bony lumps on the end or middle joints of the hands

- Loss of flexibility

Interestingly, the first year of onset of the disease may bring

acute pain, that then fades within a year or so of its

appearance. This is especially true of osteoarthritis of the

fingers.

The exact cause of osteoarthritis is not known but some

researchers believe that we are more susceptible to

osteoarthritis as we age. It may be caused by a combination of

factors, including being overweight, aging, a previous joint

injury, heredity and muscle weakness.

The pain of osteoarthritis can range from that of a minor

inconvenience for some sufferers, to chronic and debilitating

for others. In cases where pain is severe, joint replacement

surgery may be considered.

There is no cure for osteoarthritis, and treatment is geared

towards reducing pain and increasing joint. Treatment may

include medication, physical therapy, occupational therapy and

self-care.

Pharmaceutical medication is used to treat the pain and may

include, over the counter topical pain relievers that are rubbed

into the skin at the effective joint, NSAIDs and acetaminophen

taken internally to help with pain.

Prescription medications may include COX-2 inhibitors such as

Celebrex may be considered for relieving pain, But both Celebrex

and the recently removed from the market drug, Vioxx, are now

linked with some rather serious side effects including, high

blood pressure, and an increased risk of stroke and heart attack.

For some people, a side effect of living with chronic pain is

depression. Since disturbances in sleep may accompany

osteoarthritis, anti depressants may be prescribed because they

can reduce chronic pain a well as help to alleviate sleep

disturbances.

From time to time a doctor may suggest that an osteoarthritis

patient receive injections of corticosteroid, which when

injected into the joint space can offer some relief from pain

and inflammation.

Surgical procedures can provide pain relief and relieve

disability that may result from the deterioration of the joints.

These procedures may include joint replacement; repositioning

bones and fusing bones.

The surgical procedures and prescription medications may be

overkill in the case where the osteoarthritis sufferer has only

mild pain and inflammation. There is much that the mild or

occasional sufferer can do to alleviate their pain on their own.

Life-style changes can help the condition so dramatically that

it is sometimes the only treatment the occasional suffered will

need.

Some things that you can do to help with the pain and stiffness

are:

* Exercise regularly

* Control your weight

* Eat a healthy diet

* Apply heat to alleviate pain

* Choose appropriate footwear to help support your back and hip

joints.

* Apply cold for occasional flare-ups

* Practice relaxation techniques

In all cases osteoarthritis sufferers can benefit from making

some changes in how they approach everyday activities.

- Arm yourself with information and a " can do " attitude: Work

with your health care professional to take control of your

treatment and actively manage your arthritis.

- Make use of a brace or cane if needed. A brace can greatly

help to support a painful knee. And walking with a cane can help

support an ailing hip.

- Keep activity within your limits. Osteoarthritis can make you

prone to fatigue and muscle weakness. Take a short nap or rest

when you fell tired.

- Avoid straining your finger joints. Use a kitchen tool or hot

water to help with opening jars and bottles. Kitchen centers

and hardware stores are beginning to carry a supply of kitchen

aids to help with simple tasks that may be difficult for

osteoarthritis sufferers.

- Take breaks. Periodically relax and stretch.

- Maintain good posture. Good posture more evenly distributes

your body weight making it easier to support.

Regardless of the approaches that people take to dealing with

their osteoarthritis almost everyone can benefit from the use

of natural supplements. Glucosamine. is a naturally occurring

substance that has been shown to be extremely effective in

treating osteoarthritis.

Phosoplex™ is a natural supplement takes glucosamine one step

better by combining it with Bio Cell Collagen II, a

concentration of many elements including glucosamine.

The makers of Phosoplex™ have a valid point when they tell us

" ...If we consume only single elements involved in the complex

process of keeping our joints and other connective tissue

healthy we could only expect partial effectiveness. " Phosoplex™

with its full spectrum of essential elements provides broader

nutritional support aiding the overall health of individuals

joints.

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More information about Phosoplex™ can be found at:

http://www.bodestore.com/phosoplex.html

Kamau Austin and McIntyre are health and fitness

enthusiasts and advocates. They write on a regular basis on

timeless health and fitness tips at the Fit After Forty Blog.

See more useful health and fitness news and tips at...

http://www.healthandfitnessvitality.com/blogs/fitnessblog.htm