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It is feasible to cut back arthritis pain and stiffness without medication, but it surely takes some work. |
Here are some steps you'll be able to take to regulate symptoms and reduce your dependence on medications to remain energetic.
For osteoarthritis, chances are you'll need occasional doses of over-the-counter pain relievers to regulate the pain and stiffness related to osteoarthritis and to proceed living your life as you want.
But as osteoarthritis progresses from mild to moderate, the doses needed to regulate pain can begin to extend with none promise of reducing the underlying damage to joint cartilage. Men start on the lookout for ways to cope with osteoarthritis without more pills.
Men with osteoarthritis can do things to cut back their dependence on medications, including maintaining a healthy weight, exercising frequently, and trying physical therapy every so often, especially for weight-bearing joints within the knees and hips. For osteoarthritis.
Other options, comparable to acupuncture and ultrasound treatment, should not strongly supported by research. But it, too, could be value a try. “For moderate to severe osteoarthritis, pain medications don't always work,” says Dr. Schmerling. “Even a small advantage might be worth getting, because we don't have the best alternatives.”
Maintain a healthy weight
Keeping trim is among the best things one can do with knee or hip osteoarthritis. “In people who are overweight or obese and have osteoarthritis, even modest weight loss can reduce symptoms,” says Dr. Schmerling.
Studies have shown that chubby individuals with knee osteoarthritis who drop a few pounds feel less pain and are more energetic of their every day lives. Even losing 5% of your current weight – for those who're chubby – could make a big difference. (For a 200-pound man, meaning losing 10 kilos.)
Exercise frequently.
Men with osteoarthritis within the hips or knees are advised to exercise frequently. It each improves general aerobic fitness and stretches and strengthens the muscles that support arthritic joints. Doing so reduces pain and stiffness and improves every day functioning. The evidence for the good thing about exercise is strongest for knee arthritis, but less so for hip arthritis.
Research shows that regular exercise may slow the progression of osteoarthritis for those who start exercising early in the middle of the disease — before more joint damage and cartilage damage has sustained.
Even if exercising is painful, it still advantages you. “If people find something they can do and afford, we encourage them to do it,” says Dr. Schmerling. “It's not just a matter of reducing the pain. You don't want a stiff joint to become stiffer, so it's always better not to move.”
Brisk walking or light jogging are also good options for individuals with mild osteoarthritis. Men with more advanced or painful osteoarthritis within the knees and hips can exercise by swimming, water aerobics, and biking without putting an excessive amount of weight on the affected joints. “Also consider cross-training — for example, walking one day and biking the next — so you won't get bored and you'll be more likely to stick with it,” says Dr. Schmerling.
Try physical therapy
Osteoarthritis treatment guidelines endorse physical therapy. This means going to the clinic frequently to work with a physical therapist. Especially if you could have severe arthritis, a physical therapist may also help develop a correct exercise program that strengthens the knee without causing excessive pain and swelling. For example, men with osteoarthritis behind the knee could be advised to avoid deep knee bends and other movements that require significant flexion of the joint.
Some physical therapists offer additional services to cut back pain, comparable to ultrasound and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
If done appropriately, ultrasound and TENS are unlikely to cause harm, although their effectiveness is just not well established.
In ultrasound therapy, the physiotherapist uses a blunt wand to deliver high-frequency sound energy into the affected joints. It produces soothing heat, but research has not clearly shown that ultrasound therapy reduces pain and stiffness or improves every day functioning.
With TENS, you utilize a pair of stick-on electrodes to deliver low-voltage electrical pulses to the painful area of ​​the joint. It is just not clear how TENS works. It may block or suppress pain signals, act directly on joint tissues, or each. Some research shows that TENS provides temporary relief during painful flare-ups.
Anyone with a bank card and a web connection can order a TENS device online. If you do, ask your doctor or physical therapist for advice on the way to use it safely.
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Some research shows that acupuncture may also help relieve osteoarthritis knee pain. |
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has grown in popularity as a treatment for osteoarthritis. Some good-quality research shows that acupuncture can add pain relief to medications and physical therapy. It may take a month or two of weekly treatments to seek out out if it really works for you. Acupuncture typically costs $65 to $125 per session. Private insurers often don't pay for it, and neither does Medicare or Medicaid.
Performed by a good and experienced practitioner, acupuncture is protected. “I don't refer many patients for acupuncture, but I certainly don't discourage it,” says Dr. Schmerling.
Dietary supplements
Many individuals with osteoarthritis look to dietary supplements either as a substitute or as an addition to standard treatments. Among the preferred osteoarthritis supplements are glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, that are naturally present in cartilage. People take these supplements in hopes of reducing pain or joint deterioration, but several well-designed clinical trials—mostly targeting osteoarthritis of the knee—don't strongly support these advantages. are
As with any dietary complement, limited regulation enables unscrupulous firms to distribute products that don't contain the energetic ingredients they claim. When you purchase joint health supplements, understand that you just should not getting what you're paying for.
How to make use of acetaminophen for osteoarthritisAcetaminophen (Tylenol and a number of other other brands) doesn't control pain effectively for everybody with osteoarthritis, but it surely's value a try before you switch to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). . “Give it a few weeks, and if it doesn't work, stop taking it,” Dr. Schmerling says. Acetaminophen reduces pain but not swelling; NSAIDs, comparable to ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), treat each pain and inflammation. However, NSAIDs can damage the liner of the stomach and intestines. This is why most treatment guidelines recommend acetaminophen because the “first-try” pain reliever for arthritis. Acetaminophen may cause liver damage in high doses, so you'll want to watch out about how much you're taking. For healthy adults, the FDA has set a maximum every day intake of 4,000 milligrams (mg). However, the trend has been to lower it to three,000 mg to create a further margin of safety. People with liver disease or who drink alcohol frequently should reduce the utmost every day dose to 2,500 mg or less. And don't forget that many cold and flu remedies also contain significant amounts of acetaminophen. These ought to be added to your every day intake. Photos: Thinkstock |