
Treatment options available for osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a physical issue wherein the joint bones of the body start getting eroded and causes pain in joints of the body. Although it can be diagnosed in any bodily joint, this type of arthritis occurs most commonly in the joints of hips, knees, and spine. With the emergence of technological advancements, the medical field has successfully developed various treatment methods for the curing of this health complication. Some of the popular methods for treating arthritis have been discussed below in this article.
Oral medication
Low to moderate levels of osteoarthritis can be treated with the intake of oral medication. On the negative side, its long-term consumption can cause some side effects. Some of the beneficial drugs are as follows:
- Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug
These drugs are available over the counter to the patient party and are typically used for reducing pain associated with arthritis. Stronger doses of this medication have to be prescribed by the doctors and it can even reduce inflammation of the bone joints. - Acetaminophen
It is the genre of drug that can cure minor to moderate level of joint pains. However, its excessive intake can hamper the healthy functioning of the liver band cause side effects such as stomach ache, nausea, and itchiness on the skin surface.
Therapy treatment
There are various therapies that can prevent the worsening of osteoarthritis complications by moderating the lifestyle and movements of the patients. Some of the popular and useful therapies available for treating joint dysfunctions are listed below:
- Occupational therapy
The professional providing this therapy guides the affected people on how to change their daily lifestyle to a more convenient one. For an instance, a patient with severe knee osteoarthritis can use a seating bench in the shower in order to exert lesser pressure on the knees. - Physical therapists
This therapy is crafted in a customized form to cater to the different bodily requirement for different patients. A physical therapist creates an exercising program for a patient to cure the issue of joint pains. Daily practice of gentle exercises is effective in minimizing the suffering of the patients.
Surgical treatment methods
In case of the severe osteoarthritis, wherein conditions do not respond to conservative
methods, they have to be treated by surgical operations. Some of them have been discussed below:
- Replacement of joints
This procedure involves the replacement of damaged joints of the body with that of metal or plastics components. However, there are a few risks pertaining to this major operation. The artificial parts can wear out in the long run and furthermore, the surgeries can cause blood clotting and infection inside of the body. - Injection of cortisone
Surgeons inject a corticosteroid into the affected joint surface for reducing the aggravating pain produced in the region. The dosage of this medicine is limited since it can cause damage to the bone joints with a protracted application.
The aging process with the advancement of years is an uncontrollable phenomenon. Bone decay is a major health concern encountered by the senior age group. Nonetheless, there are various treatments available in the medical field that can relieve the pain and daily sufferings of arthritis patients.