Osteoarthritis Treatments

A person's lifestyle is seriously affected by osteoarthritis. Not only does it come with pain and swelling in one's joints but also it impedes any person suffering the condition from normal day-to-day activities such as walking, climbing a flight of stairs, and running. The pain induced by osteoarthritis sometimes depending on the severity of the ailment, can even pose a threat to one's occupation.

Diagnosis

The first and most important step in the treatment of osteoarthritis is the diagnosis. Why? First, because correctly diagnosing the arthritis could spell the difference between pain and relief, aggravating and alleviating the condition, the safety of the treatment and also treatment costs.

Medication for Pain Relief

What everyone looks for in any medication or treatment, and perhaps it is the most explicit gauge of the efficacy of treatment for osteoarthritis, is how well it soothes the pain in the joints. In fact, most oral medications target pain relief more than stopping the condition from progressing.

NSAIDS – also known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, meloxicam, ketoprofen, naproxen, and naproxen sodium provide osteoarthritis sufferers quick pain relief but do not treat the condition itself.

Cox-2 Drugs – such as celecoxib and valdecoxib are a special kind of NSAIDS that are less likely to have side effects.

Analgesics and Topical Analgesics – People experiencing mild to moderate pain from osteoarthritis can take analgesics (oral medicine) and or topical analgesics (externally-applied medicine) which are both easy to obtain from any drugstore counter. Tramadol, propoxyphene hydrochloride, and acetaminophen are some examples of analgesics while creams and rubs that have a counterirritants or a combination of counterirritants such as wintergreen oil, camphor or eucalyptus are examples of topical analgesics.

Injectable Glucocorticoids – Knee pains caused by moderate to severe pressure or trauma to joints surrounding the knees can be treated with injectable glucocorticoids which are steroids that provide quick pain relief. However, these may only be administered only 3-4 times a year on the same area.

Alternative Treatment

An alternative oral medicine to treat osteoarthritis is a dietary glucosamine supplement. Glucosamine supplements such as Synflex Liquid Glucosamine which fortunately comes in liquid form making absorption easier and faster, do not only provide pain relief but also reverses symptoms of osteoarthritis by repairing damaged cartilages in the joints. Synflex glucosamine contains ample amounts of anti-inflammatory substances such as yucca, manganese ascorbate, and boswellin that soothe pain and swelling in the joints. Ingredients such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate serve to stimulate the production of essential components in cartilage.

Readjusting one's Lifestyle

Of course treatment for osteoarthritis is highly dependent on the patient's willingness and participation. Sometimes the most effective treatment is the will of the patient to get well again. When the will is strong, the patient is motivated to find other ways of helping himself or herself (of course consultation with one's physician is still a must before attempting any independent treatment) such as remodeling one's lifestyle. Incorporating a nutritious diet and regular exercise to one's life can be a big help in the treatment of osteoarthritis.