Managing the Pain Associated with Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis that often affects young adults, middle-aged adults, and elderly people. In the United States, it is considered as one of the leading causes of disability, and almost 21 million Americans have this disease.
Osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical damage on the joints, involving the joint lining, cartilage, bone, and ligaments. This degenerative joint disease comes with inflammation and pain in the joints throughout the body.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for osteoarthritis, but you can find ways or treatments to manage the pain associated with it.
Healthy diet
One of the excellent ways to ease the pain that comes with osteoarthritis is to shift to a healthy diet.
You should avoid eating foods that cause and worsen inflammation, such as dairy foods, gluten, potatoes, tomatoes, and sugar. Instead, eat foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as cold-water fish and fish oils.
You can also include spicy foods like pepper in your diet because they are abundant in anti-inflammatory properties. It is also essential to eat less simple carbohydrates and more protein to keep a balanced blood sugar level. Maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is an excellent way to stimulate healing mechanisms in the body.
Regular physical exercise
Doing physical activities can facilitate blood circulation and prevent stiffness in the joints. You can try simple physical activities, such as walking, swimming, biking, or yoga, for that purpose. Aside from these benefits, regular exercise also reduces your weight, which can help prevent further joint damage and limit the pain that comes with the disease.
Pain medications
Doctors offer patients with anti-inflammatory and pain medications in the form of syrups, pills, injections, and creams. These medications include:
- Corticosteroids. A potent anti-inflammatory medication ingested through the mouth or injected into the affected joint. Advice and guidance of a doctor are necessary before taking corticosteroids.
- Analgesics. A kind of pain reliever that includes opioids, acetaminophen, and tramadol. A doctor prescribes these meds.
- Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural joint fluid in the human body that serves as a lubricant and shock absorber. However, in people with osteoarthritis, this acid breaks down, resulting in joint stiffness and pain. Doctors make hyaluronic acid from bacteria or extract it from rooster combs to be injected on patients with osteoarthritis.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This medication is used to relieve pain and inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include ibuprofen, aspirin, celecoxib, and naproxen. You can purchase them over the counter or via a doctor’s prescription.
Food supplements
You can also try food supplements for pain management. For instance, supplements that contain ginger and turmeric are ideal for taking to ease the pain associated with osteoporosis because they are rich in anti-inflammatory properties.
Cannabidiol (CBD) can also help reduce inflammatory pain that comes with the disease. CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant, but it is not psychoactive. If you’re interested in learning more be sure to check out these Ananda Hemp coupons.
However, you should keep in mind to consult a doctor before taking any food and nutritional supplements for pain management. Some supplements nowadays contain ingredients that may intervene with existing medication or complicate the disease.
Therapies
Physical, occupational, and other types of therapies are also available to manage the pain associated with osteoarthritis. These include:
- Heat and cold therapies
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Hydrotherapy
- Relaxation techniques
Surgery
Damaged joints can be repaired or replaced through surgery. However, a surgical procedure is very risky for patients who are elderly, and a doctor might not recommend it. It is essential that you talk with your doctor and loved ones to help you with your decision before taking the surgical procedure.
Takeaway
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes mild to extreme pain to patients who have it. So, if you have osteoarthritis, you should know the ways and treatments to manage the pain associated with the disease. What we have discussed above is an essential starting point for that purpose.
