Different Ways You Can Prevent Yourself From Osteoarthritis!

Osteoarthritis is among the most common ailments that people on the other side of 50 are affected with. Few of the primary reasons behind osteoarthritis are age, obesity, lack of exercise and weakened bones. Sometimes, osteoarthritis stems from joint injury or some sort of stress on the bones. It leads to acute pain and stiffness and can only be cured through medication and exercise.

The symptoms may vary from mild creakiness in the joints,swelling,mild pain to deformity of the joint,stiffness, difficulty in movement and severe pain. Long periods of inactivity can also trigger extreme stiffness. While it is an extremely painful disease, it does not spread to the other parts of the body. Inflammation of various degrees in the ligaments and joints is the primary cause of osteoarthritis and sustained treatment can only result in abating of pain.

Osteoarthritis is usually treated through detecting the symptoms and through other imaging tests, while joint replacement is a viable solution in severe cases, majority of the patients are managed with non-surgical processes that reap fruitful results while battling osteoarthritis. It usually involves an optimum mixture of exercises and drug therapy. While there are several cures available, prevention should always be a priority.

• Physical activity: Obesity is one of the primary causes of osteoarthritis. Certain prescribed exercises can go a long way in improving muscle strength and reducing joint pains. However, excessive exercises must be avoided. Lifestyle modifications like avoiding high stress activities (e.g. squatting, sitting crosslegged, stairs and prolonged standing) also help in decreasing the pain. Physiotherapy with a trained physiotherapist is beneficial.
• Medicines and drugs: Osteoarthritis can be kept under control and averted through specific medications. Drugs can be consumed orally or can be injected directly as per the prescription of the doctor if he or she forebodes an onset of osteoarthritis. Knee lubricants have also been helpful in curing osteoarthritis. For more severe conditions, specified medical attention may be required.
• Nutritional Supplements: For obtaining relief from joint pains, a proper and healthy diet is necessary. An enhanced supply of calcium, vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids is thus mandatory for remedying and preventing osteoarthritis. A healthy diet builds your immunity and prevents such diseases.
• Surgery: It is done in those patients whom other treatment fails. Surgeries vary from high tibial osteotomy (HTO) to unicondylar knee replacement and total knee replacement. HTO and Unicondylar knee replacement are preferred in younger patients and Total knee replacement is considered in elderly. They provide excellent outcomes in patients suffering from severe Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These are relatively hassle-free surgeries which go a long way in providing relief. However, you must follow the advice of the doctors thoroughly before opting for this. You should consider surgery if other measures are not working.

Many indications of knee replacements include severe osteoarthritis in x-ray with deformity of the knee causing significant problems in lifestyle of the patient despite all conservative means.