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.
Joint injuries, including repetitive injuries to the affected joints, lead to further cartilage breakdown. Injuries cause OA flare-ups if they damage the cartilage, bone, or both.
"Unfortunately, it's still not completely clear what triggers osteoarthritis to flare up, although we suspect that a primary contributor is overuse of the affected joint, either due to repetitive action or prolonged activity without sufficient rest."
Heat or cold therapy
Applying a heating pad or ice pack to the affected area can reduce the symptoms of OA flare-ups, including pain and stiffness in your joints. For the best result, alternate between hot and cold therapy. Avoid applying the ice packs directly to the skin as this may damage the skin.
The Arthritis Foundation says exercise is “the most effective, non-drug treatment for reducing pain and improving movement in patients with osteoarthritis.” The best types of exercise for osteoarthritis use slight resistance, improve flexibility, offer an aerobic element, and are low impact.
Another pain-related condition that can be adversely affected by caffeine consumption is osteoarthritis. Caffeine can often increase the inflammation that is present in joints affected by arthritis. The more inflammation present in these joints, the more someone experiencing the condition will feel related pain.
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness in your joints, which can make it difficult to move the affected joints and do certain activities. The symptoms may come and go in episodes, which can be related to your activity levels and even the weather. In more severe cases, the symptoms can be continuous.
People with osteoarthritis have also reported having fatigue.
Applying hot or cold packs to the joints can relieve the pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis in some people. A hot-water bottle filled with either hot or cold water and applied to the affected area can be very effective in reducing pain.
Proper oseteoarthritis treatment includes exercise
There's no cure for osteoarthritis, but there is a lot you can do to slow its progression, reduce pain, and maintain or improve function. Losing weight can be particularly helpful if you're overweight or obese.
What is considered severe osteoarthritis? In severe or advanced osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the joints has worn away. This causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty performing everyday tasks. With osteoarthritis, pain and stiffness is common first thing in the day and typically lessen after a while.
Walking is recommended for people with arthritis as it's low impact, helps to keep the joints flexible, helps bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. If you do experience pain or you're very stiff afterwards try doing a bit less, factor in more rest and check in with your GP, if you need to.
The wrong sleep position can make those areas feel worse. Sleep with your head, neck, and spine in a straight line. Don't keep your head tilted far to one side, or too far forward or backward on the pillow. Sleep on your back or side, not your tummy.
Bananas and Plantains are high in magnesium and potassium that can increase bone density. Magnesium may also alleviate arthritis symptoms.
Osteoarthritis affects each person differently. For some people, osteoarthritis is relatively mild and does not affect day-to-day activities. For others, it causes significant pain and disability. Joint damage usually develops gradually over years, although it could worsen quickly in some people.
Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in a joint to become stiff and lose its elasticity, making it more susceptible to damage. Over time, the cartilage may wear away in some areas, greatly decreasing its ability to act as a shock absorber. As the cartilage wears away, tendons and ligaments stretch, causing pain.
Beverage Basics
In general, avoid soda since it can be full of sugar, aspartame and phosphoric acid. The latter can negatively affect your body's ability to absorb calcium. Water can get a bit boring, but there are other ways to stay healthy and hydrated.
Staying hydrated is vital when you live with arthritis. Hydration is key for flushing toxins out of your body, which can help fight inflammation, and well-hydrated cartilage reduces the rate of friction between bones, meaning you can move more easily.
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.
Over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can help relieve occasional pain triggered by activity your muscles and joints aren't used to — such as gardening after a winter indoors.
A new study has indicated that the drug talarozole can reduce and modify osteoarthritis symptoms. More research is being conducted to assess the medication's potential in treating the condition.