Now is about the time in central New York when we all yearn for the warmth of spring. And no one does so more than the person with arthritis. Arthritis is Latin for joint inflammation and it comes in several forms.
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. The exact cause of arthritis is not exactly known but you may be at more risk if it runs in your family. It seems to be related to the wear and tear we put on joints over the years, or related to prior injury of a joint. Being overweight also puts extra strain on joints of the legs.
Cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones in a joint. In some people, the cartilage wears down and bone starts rubbing against bone. Bones can grow spurs in the joint as a result. Pieces of bone and cartilage can get loose in the joint. All of these processes contribute to pain, stiffness and swelling of osteoarthritis. There is no cure for this process. Our available treatments deal with relieving pain or limiting progression of the disease.
Osteoarthritis does tend to get worse over time but there are many things you can do at home to help with pain. It is important to stay active because limiting the use of a joint tends to cause muscles to get weak and stiff, leading to even more pain. Your physician, chiropractor, occupational or physical therapist can recommend stretching and strengthening exercises to help. Losing weight, avoiding overexertion and using heat or cold can also help relieve pain. For people with more advanced arthritis, special devices can help reduce further wear and tear on joints. Canes, walkers, shoe inserts, special fasteners, openers and grips as bath seats and bathroom grab bars can all be helpful.
There are many medications available to help relieve pain, and many are over the counter (OTC). It is important to use the lowest dose of medication that relieves pain. Always discuss with your physician if you can take any new medication, whether it is OTC, herbal or otherwise. All of the medications I list below are potentially dangerous if not taken appropriately.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a rather unique drug and can be very effective for relieving arthritis pain. Other OTC medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Prescription NSAIDs include Mobic, Celebrex and others. The dietary supplements Glucosamine sulfate and Chondroitin seem to be helpful for relieving arthritis pain and have few side effects. There does not seem to be added benefit to the combination of the two supplements.
In some instances, your physician can inject medication directly into a joint suffering from arthritis to relieve pain. One type is commonly called a “cortisone” injection and helps relieve inflammation. The others are man-made substances that mimic joint cartilage and fluid.
For pain that is disabling and not responding to any of the above treatments, your physician may recommend surgery to replace a joint. This is commonly done for hips and knees to help people gain back mobility they have lost from osteoarthritis.
Dr. Davidd Levy is a family physician in Auburn. He is accepting new patients and can be contacted at 282-0525.
Cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones in a joint. In some people, the cartilage wears down and bone starts rubbing against bone. Bones can grow spurs in the joint as a result. Pieces of bone and cartilage can get loose in the joint. All of these processes contribute to pain, stiffness and swelling of osteoarthritis. There is no cure for this process. Our available treatments deal with relieving pain or limiting progression of the disease.
Osteoarthritis does tend to get worse over time but there are many things you can do at home to help with pain. It is important to stay active because limiting the use of a joint tends to cause muscles to get weak and stiff, leading to even more pain. Your physician, chiropractor, occupational or physical therapist can recommend stretching and strengthening exercises to help. Losing weight, avoiding overexertion and using heat or cold can also help relieve pain. For people with more advanced arthritis, special devices can help reduce further wear and tear on joints. Canes, walkers, shoe inserts, special fasteners, openers and grips as bath seats and bathroom grab bars can all be helpful.
There are many medications available to help relieve pain, and many are over the counter (OTC). It is important to use the lowest dose of medication that relieves pain. Always discuss with your physician if you can take any new medication, whether it is OTC, herbal or otherwise. All of the medications I list below are potentially dangerous if not taken appropriately.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a rather unique drug and can be very effective for relieving arthritis pain. Other OTC medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Prescription NSAIDs include Mobic, Celebrex and others. The dietary supplements Glucosamine sulfate and Chondroitin seem to be helpful for relieving arthritis pain and have few side effects. There does not seem to be added benefit to the combination of the two supplements.
In some instances, your physician can inject medication directly into a joint suffering from arthritis to relieve pain. One type is commonly called a “cortisone” injection and helps relieve inflammation. The others are man-made substances that mimic joint cartilage and fluid.
For pain that is disabling and not responding to any of the above treatments, your physician may recommend surgery to replace a joint. This is commonly done for hips and knees to help people gain back mobility they have lost from osteoarthritis.
Dr. Davidd Levy is a family physician in Auburn. He is accepting new patients and can be contacted at 282-0525.
