Ultimately, the best defense against any disease, including OA, is a healthy lifestyle. Diet, exercise, sleep, managing stress and whether you smoke, or drink can have a tremendous influence on overall health, and the health of your joints.
Activities like walking and aerobics can keep the joints limber and prevent arthritis pain from becoming worse. Gardening, for example, can be made easier for arthritis sufferers by using assistive devices like lightweight hoses and kneelers. Also, some foods are better for arthritis sufferers than others.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and joints.
Your doctor can suggest treatment that can slow the progress of arthritis and help keep you mobile. Arthritis treatments include: Drugs that reduce pain and inflammation. These can include over-the-counter drugs like aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen, or drugs your doctor may prescribe.
Injuries cause OA flare-ups if they damage the cartilage, bone, or both. Injuries from accidents or sporting activities may change the mechanics of the joint, thus triggering further deterioration characterized by constant flare-ups. OA is a degenerative condition that gets worse with age.
It's different for everyone, but some people with RA notice that as the seasons shift, so do their symptoms. Studies suggest autumn may be the sweet spot for RA while winter and spring are the most challenging. A recent study found that humidity made pain worse, especially in colder weather.
End-stage arthritis is the progressive wearing down of the cartilage that is present between the bones of a joint causing the bones to come in contact with each other and painfully rub against each other during movement of the joint. This results in severe pain with loss of movement and function.
Pills. NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling.
Vitamins D and K are both important for bone strength, and vitamin K is involved in cartilage structure. Supplementing these two nutrients may be helpful if you're deficient in them. When you take supplements as directed and under your doctor's supervision, they're generally safe.
1. Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements. These supplements may help fight several types of inflammation, including vascular inflammation.
Heat and cold.
Use of heat, such as applying heating pads to aching joints, taking hot baths or showers, or immersing painful joints in warm paraffin wax, can help relieve pain temporarily. Be careful not to burn yourself. Use heating pads for no more than 20 minutes at a time.
Most forms of arthritis are thought to be caused by a fault in the immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues in the joints. This may be inherited genetically. Other forms of arthritis can be caused by problems with the immune system or by a metabolic condition, such as gout.
There is no cure for arthritis. But it's important to help keep joints working by reducing pain and inflammation. Work on a treatment plan with your healthcare provider that includes medicine and therapy. Work on lifestyle changes that can improve your quality of life.
Recap. Some research has shown that people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may benefit from magnesium in their diet or as a supplement. Since arthritis can cause inflammation, magnesium's anti-inflammatory effects might help some people with the condition.
Supplements for joint lubrication can be quite effective.
These include glucosamine, chondroitin, fish oil, turmeric, and S-adenosyl-L-methionine. Always speak with a doctor before taking a new supplement as they may interact with other medications or cause adverse side effects.
How much: Recommended dietary allowance (RDA) = 420 milligrams (mg) daily for men 31 and older; 320 mg for women. For best absorption, choose magnesium orotate, oxide or citrate. Too much: Tolerable upper limit (UL) = 350 mg.
Commonly used arthritis medications include: NSAIDs . Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Examples include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).
Willow bark and ginger are two teas used for arthritis because of their anti-inflammatory properties. To get the dose right using loose herbs, you can consult with an herbalist or a traditional Chinese medicine physician.
Paracetamol. If you have pain caused by osteroarthritis, your GP might suggest you consider taking paracetamol for short-term pain relief. You can buy paracetamol at supermarkets or pharmacies. However, many people find that it doesn't work very well, and it is only normally tried if you can't take other medicines.
Nevertheless, with the right treatment, many people can live past the age of 80 or even 90 years while experiencing relatively mild symptoms and only minor limitations on day-to-day life.
You can't reverse osteoarthritis, but you can manage the condition and slow its progression down. However, it's important you talk with your doctor first before trying any new treatments, remedies, or supplements.
Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition and cannot be cured, but it doesn't necessarily get any worse over time and it can sometimes gradually improve. A number of treatments are also available to reduce the symptoms. Mild symptoms can sometimes be managed with simple measures, including: regular exercise.