HOW TO FIGHT OSTEOARTHRITIS?

Like rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune origin), osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis and is the most common. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative arthritis characterized by the destruction (wear and tear) of the cartilage that protects and covers the bones of the joint, and by the appearance of bone growths. It affects mainly the joints that support the body's weight (knees, hips, spine and feet) and leads to chronic and disabling rheumatism when the person walks, runs or exerts himself throughout the day. So how do you treat it? Here are the various existing treatments and useful recommendations to relieve the pain...

Treatment through healthy living

The first treatment for this form of arthritis is to provide the skeleton with good working conditions to prevent it from being damaged or less worn out over time. Several measures can then be observed. The first step is to make sure that you are in good shape and lose any excess weight. Every extra kilogram weighs on the joints and contributes to wear and tear. You should then adapt your workstation so that you do not repeat gestures that are eventually aggressive to the joints. You should also make sure you sit down and have a good posture in front of your computer. It is also necessary to favour an anti-inflammatory diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and few foods with high glycemic index. In this respect, it has been proven that marine collagen supplementation (which can be consumed even by diabetics and people with intolerance) helps to reduce rheumatism and joint pain in several joint diseases. Anti-inflammatory spices such as ginger or turmeric (combined with black pepper) should also be used in dishes. And you should take care to increase your intake of omega-3 fats. In addition to a good diet, you should also take up regular physical activity that is not traumatic for the joints.

Medical and surgical treatments

When joint pain is very severe and the joints are swollen, the doctor will prescribe several recommendations to relieve the osteoarthritis crisis. The first is to rest the joints, which will help relieve the pain. The second is to use the various existing aids to let the joints rest (lumbar belt, cane, neck brace or foam collar). The third is to treat the pain by taking an analgesic treatment (paracetamol then comes in first place among the treatments attributed). The fourth is to place ice packs on the joint, taking care not to burn the skin. And the fifth and final medical recommendation is to treat the inflammation with an anti-inflammatory or corticosteroid, obtained only with a medical prescription. In terms of surgery, certain interventions have the power to correct the joint abnormalities that cause or aggravate many rheumatic conditions. Joint prostheses (knee and hip in particular) can even replace a joint that has become too worn and disabling.

In-depth treatments

Outside periods of joint pain attacks, in-depth treatment can improve joint comfort and help prevent recurrences. There are several such treatments. Visco-supplementation consists of injecting a specific gel into the joint. Practiced by a doctor, usually in the knee, it offers very good results in terms of relief and reducing the risk of aggravation. Thermal cures can also help to relieve pain and provide good quality therapeutic education. Acupuncture would also have a relaxing and pain-relieving effect in polyarthritis and other forms of joint problems. Harpagophytum, known as Devil's Claw, is a plant native to Southern Africa which, taken in capsule form, has very interesting anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. It helps to maintain joint health, ensures joint flexibility and helps maintain good mobility. Glucosamine, which is produced naturally by the body from glucose and glutamine, plays a major role in maintaining the integrity of cartilage in all joints. It used to be injected directly into the joints in cases of arthrosic problems, but is now taken in tablet form. And chondroitin is believed to be able to slow the progression of joint diseases. It is also available in tablet form, in combination with glucosamine. It should be noted that some anti-arthrosic drugs contain glucosamine and chondroitin. In conclusion, it is possible today to intervene at all levels of rheumatic problems in the family of polyarthritis, from the elimination of their causes to the stimulation of the various joint constituents. And the earlier the measures are taken, the more effective they will be.