Osteoarthritis pain relief is sought by millions of American who suffer from this milder form of joint inflammation. This form of arthritis, known as a low-grade joint inflammation is the most common form of degenerative joint disease. The "osteo" form of arthritis is caused by the loss of cartilage between bones. Cartilage serves as a protein cushion and when that cushion is gone, the inflammation begins, bringing daily aches and pains to over twenty million Americans. The causes of this type of joint inflammation are thought to be age related. As a person gets older, the water content of the cartilage increases, and the protein begins to dissipate, causing the surfaces to begin to grind. While men at age forty five begin to notice this inflammation first, women aren't typically affected by the same affliction until ten years later.
When a person begins to have daily pain in the joints caused by osteoarthritis, there are a couple of options that the person can exercise. The first is a trip to the family physician where a possible drug therapy is discussed, along with a possible exercise program to help minimize the daily discomfort. Swimming is often mentioned along with yoga as two excellent ways to increase joint flexibility and perhaps mitigate some aches and soreness in the joints. The second area where the physician will suggest help is in the application of drug therapy. Osteoarthritis pain relief, if it is mild to moderate pain, will probably be first addressed by over the counter products such as acetaminophen. This drug won't take care of the swelling but it may help with the aches and soreness. There are some drawbacks with a long term use of this medicine, especially if alcohol is consumed, so make sure and talk honestly with the physician before beginning this regimen.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, typically called NSAIDS are the next step up in the osteoarthritis pain ladder. The over the counter brand of these medicines are Advil, Motrin and Aleve but they do have long term risk factors for stomach ulcers, bleeding and heart problems. They are best used for occasional strong pain after exercise or certain activities are particularly aggravated the joint inflammation. Often, Tramadol is prescribed when the NSAIDS are not a good choice, and while this drug can provide significant osteoarthritis pain relief, there is the unwanted and unwelcome side effect of constipation. Stronger pain medicine may conservatively be prescribed by the physician as well as the suggestion of using cortisone shots directly into the affected joint area. In recent years osteoarthritis pain relief therapy has often included injections of hyaluronic acid in the joint, sometimes providing several months of relief. The mark of a child of God is a hunger for His presence: "As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." (Psalm 42: 1)
Earlier it was said the osteoarthritis was viewed a low grade, and so it is when compared with the rheumatoid variety, but there can still com a time when osteoarthritis cannot be tolerated by the sufferer and more aggressive forms of osteoarthritis pain relief are sought. In the case of the knee, hip or shoulder being the center of the aggravation, joint replacement surgery may be the ultimate alternative. In all three cases, a state of the art prosthetic device takes the place of the joint that has been compromised by osteoarthritis. The replacement of a joint is not a whimsical walk through the park. It is major surgery that has risks and long term recovery issues that must be considered before agreeing to the procedure.
When joint surgery began several decades ago, the devices implanted in the patient were little more than door hinges in design. State of the art prosthetic devices today are made of space age polymers, ceramic and high strength metals that the body will not reject. They are designed to roll and glide with the body's natural motions, so the patient can regain a great deal of the lifestyle before the arthritis began. And while the receivers of these modern marvels won't be world class athletes, that round of golf or game of tennis just might be possible again. Jack Nicklaus and Eddie Van Halen are just a few of the notable persons that have had hip replacement surgery. And while these surgeries do have a litany of possible risks, many choose to have them in order to obtain osteoarthritis pain relief.
The primal drive to have osteoarthritis pain relief and be rid of daily suffering often outweighs the risk of blood clots, nerve damage, infection and complications for anesthesia for many patients. Sometimes in hip replacement surgery, one leg (ooops!) is shorter than the other and in other cases, the modern marvel of a prosthetic breaks. In some cases, infection sets in years after the operation and the joint must be replaced, usually requiring two surgeries. The modern American has a great deal of faith in his or her health care providers, and probably for good reason. But the bottom line in all of this discussion of osteoarthritis pain relief is for the patient to be almost as informed as the physician and in some cases more informed because the busy medical professional is not always able to keep up on the very latest in advances. This is something the patient, thanks to the Internet, can do. For peace of mind, when it comes to surgery, seek at least a couple of opinions.
When a person begins to have daily pain in the joints caused by osteoarthritis, there are a couple of options that the person can exercise. The first is a trip to the family physician where a possible drug therapy is discussed, along with a possible exercise program to help minimize the daily discomfort. Swimming is often mentioned along with yoga as two excellent ways to increase joint flexibility and perhaps mitigate some aches and soreness in the joints. The second area where the physician will suggest help is in the application of drug therapy. Osteoarthritis pain relief, if it is mild to moderate pain, will probably be first addressed by over the counter products such as acetaminophen. This drug won't take care of the swelling but it may help with the aches and soreness. There are some drawbacks with a long term use of this medicine, especially if alcohol is consumed, so make sure and talk honestly with the physician before beginning this regimen.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, typically called NSAIDS are the next step up in the osteoarthritis pain ladder. The over the counter brand of these medicines are Advil, Motrin and Aleve but they do have long term risk factors for stomach ulcers, bleeding and heart problems. They are best used for occasional strong pain after exercise or certain activities are particularly aggravated the joint inflammation. Often, Tramadol is prescribed when the NSAIDS are not a good choice, and while this drug can provide significant osteoarthritis pain relief, there is the unwanted and unwelcome side effect of constipation. Stronger pain medicine may conservatively be prescribed by the physician as well as the suggestion of using cortisone shots directly into the affected joint area. In recent years osteoarthritis pain relief therapy has often included injections of hyaluronic acid in the joint, sometimes providing several months of relief. The mark of a child of God is a hunger for His presence: "As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." (Psalm 42: 1)
Earlier it was said the osteoarthritis was viewed a low grade, and so it is when compared with the rheumatoid variety, but there can still com a time when osteoarthritis cannot be tolerated by the sufferer and more aggressive forms of osteoarthritis pain relief are sought. In the case of the knee, hip or shoulder being the center of the aggravation, joint replacement surgery may be the ultimate alternative. In all three cases, a state of the art prosthetic device takes the place of the joint that has been compromised by osteoarthritis. The replacement of a joint is not a whimsical walk through the park. It is major surgery that has risks and long term recovery issues that must be considered before agreeing to the procedure.
When joint surgery began several decades ago, the devices implanted in the patient were little more than door hinges in design. State of the art prosthetic devices today are made of space age polymers, ceramic and high strength metals that the body will not reject. They are designed to roll and glide with the body's natural motions, so the patient can regain a great deal of the lifestyle before the arthritis began. And while the receivers of these modern marvels won't be world class athletes, that round of golf or game of tennis just might be possible again. Jack Nicklaus and Eddie Van Halen are just a few of the notable persons that have had hip replacement surgery. And while these surgeries do have a litany of possible risks, many choose to have them in order to obtain osteoarthritis pain relief.
The primal drive to have osteoarthritis pain relief and be rid of daily suffering often outweighs the risk of blood clots, nerve damage, infection and complications for anesthesia for many patients. Sometimes in hip replacement surgery, one leg (ooops!) is shorter than the other and in other cases, the modern marvel of a prosthetic breaks. In some cases, infection sets in years after the operation and the joint must be replaced, usually requiring two surgeries. The modern American has a great deal of faith in his or her health care providers, and probably for good reason. But the bottom line in all of this discussion of osteoarthritis pain relief is for the patient to be almost as informed as the physician and in some cases more informed because the busy medical professional is not always able to keep up on the very latest in advances. This is something the patient, thanks to the Internet, can do. For peace of mind, when it comes to surgery, seek at least a couple of opinions.
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