Nine tips to help with Osteoarthritis
If you’re middle-aged or older, it’s likely you have some Osteoarthritis in your hands, fingers, hips, knees, feet or spine. The most common form of arthritis, Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage between joints and bone gradually wears away causing joint swelling, pain, stiffness, deformity, and reduced range of motion. Most often X-rays are used to diagnose and assess the amount of joint loss, or other issues that can occur like thinning bone, reduced joint space, joint fluid, or bone spurs.
If you have osteoarthritis, here are some options your Orthopedist might recommend. If you’re in pain, seek treatment and get help!
Nonsurgical treatment for joint mobility, strength and pain relief can include:
- Lifestyle changes
- Lose weight to reduce joint stress
- Rest and ice when swollen
- Include low-impact exercise such as stretching, walking, water exercise, swimming, muscle strengthening and cycling to help strengthen your muscles, joints and keep you active.
- Medications to ease pain and swelling
- Use oral NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
- Use corticosteroid or hyaluronan injections in the joint to provide pain relief and cushioning.
- Walking aids as needed
- Use supportive/assistive devices – braces, splint, elastic bandage, cane, crutches, or walker.
- Physical therapy
- Improve balance, flexibility, range of motion, reduce pain and strengthen the muscles supporting the joints.
OrthoConnecticut recommends you consult your orthopedist surgeon for advice on surgical options, which might include:
- Arthroscopy
- In some cases, can temporarily improve pain
- Osteotomy
- To realign and reduce joint pressure
- Joint fusion
- To fuse bones together and eliminate joint flexibility
- Partial or complete joint replacement / arthroplasty
- Resurfaces the arthritic bones with manmade components to eliminate the arthritis and substantially reduce or even eliminate pain.
OrthoConnecticut Can Help
Our physicians and physician assistants are available to diagnose and advise you on the best ways to treat your Osteoarthritis. Contact us today for an appointment and #getmovingCT.
