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It is feasible to scale back arthritis pain and stiffness without medication, nevertheless it takes some work. |
Here are some steps you may take to manage symptoms and reduce your dependence on medications to remain lively.
For osteoarthritis, you could need occasional doses of over-the-counter pain relievers to manage 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 manage pain can begin to extend with none promise of reducing the underlying damage to joint cartilage. Men start in search of ways to cope with osteoarthritis without more pills.
Men with osteoarthritis can do things to scale back their dependence on medications, including maintaining a healthy weight, exercising commonly, and trying physical therapy now and again, especially for weight-bearing joints within the knees and hips. For osteoarthritis.
Other options, reminiscent of acupuncture and ultrasound treatment, are usually not strongly supported by research. But it, too, is perhaps price 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 probably the greatest 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 pounds feel less pain and are more lively of their each day lives. Even losing 5% of your current weight – if you happen to're chubby – could make a big difference. (For a 200-pound man, which means losing 10 kilos.)
Exercise commonly.
Men with osteoarthritis within the hips or knees are advised to exercise commonly. It each improves general aerobic fitness and stretches and strengthens the muscles that support arthritic joints. Doing so reduces pain and stiffness and improves each day functioning. The evidence for the advantage of exercise is strongest for knee arthritis, but less so for hip arthritis.
Research shows that regular exercise may slow the progression of osteoarthritis if you happen to 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 commonly to work with a physical therapist. Especially if you will have severe arthritis, a physical therapist will help develop a correct exercise program that strengthens the knee without causing excessive pain and swelling. For example, men with osteoarthritis behind the knee can be advised to avoid deep knee bends and other movements that require significant flexion of the joint.
Some physical therapists offer additional services to scale back pain, reminiscent of ultrasound and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
If done accurately, ultrasound and TENS are unlikely to cause harm, although their effectiveness will not be 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 each 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 will not be 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 right way to use it safely.
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Some research shows that acupuncture will 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 search 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 secure. “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 in its place 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 corporations to distribute products that don’t contain the lively ingredients they claim. When you purchase joint health supplements, understand that you just are usually not getting what you might be paying for.
How to make use of acetaminophen for osteoarthritisAcetaminophen (Tylenol and several other other brands) doesn't control pain effectively for everybody with osteoarthritis, nevertheless it's price 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, reminiscent of 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 could cause liver damage in high doses, so it’s good to watch out about how much you’re taking. For healthy adults, the FDA has set a maximum each day intake of 4,000 milligrams (mg). However, the trend has been to lower it to three,000 mg to create an extra margin of safety. People with liver disease or who drink alcohol commonly should reduce the utmost each 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 must be added to your each day intake. Photos: Thinkstock |