Osteoarthritis is a long-term chronic disease with no cure. The symptoms of the disease, however, can be managed to enable the person to live a normal life. The long-term management includes Medical attention to alleviate the pain and other symptoms of Osteoarthritis, practising, among others. The type of treatment of Osteoarthritis preferred depends on the severity of the condition.
Medications
Some medications can help alleviate some of the symptoms and effects of Osteoarthritis such as pain and swelling.
Duloxetine- The medicine is designed to help with chronic pains and as an antidepressant. The medication will help alleviate the severe Osteoarthritis pain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). There are many NSAIDS drugs for relieving pains in patients. Most of the medicines are over the counter and work best when utilised according to doctor prescription. There are some strong NSAIDS which apart from relieving of pain, they also reduce inflammation of the joint. NSAIDS, however, have different side effects such liver and kidney damage, bleeding problems, stomach upset among others.
Acetaminophen- The drug works to relief mild to moderate pain in treatment of Osteoarthritis. It requires the use of the prescribed dosage to avoid damage to the liver.
Physical Therapies
Physical practice is essential for the healthy functioning of the joint. It can be used to keep the joint in better health through strengthening the muscles around the joint, enable reduction of joint stiffness and reduce the pain on the joint due to movement. Exercise increase a person deep breathing than calms nerves and helps in pain relieving.
Surgical Treatments
Joint fusion– The process is also called Arthrodesis. In this treatment of Osteoarthritis, two bones are fused to eliminate the joint. The fusion help in relieving the patient of the pain from arthritis. The fusion is done through bone grafting or using an artificial material such as metal plates and screws to join the bones. The fusion limits any more movement of the join. The common areas that are fused include the ankle, wrists, fingers among other places.
Join replacement– when the joint wears off completely, the alternative solution is the replacement of the joint with an artificial joint. The doctor removes the joint and replaces it with an artificial joint. For example, replacing of the hip joint, the knee joint among others. The downside of this treatment methods is the risk of infection, and the artificial joint may break down or become lose which will eventually require replacement.
Realignment of the joint– Osteoarthritis can severely damage the joint and cause joint deformation. Surgical operation sometimes helps in realigning the joint where the doctor cut above or below the joint to add or remove a wedge to shift the body weight from the infected area thus relieving the patient from pain. This is especially for the knee joint.
Lubrication injections– This is a form of Osteoarthritis treatment in which lubricant with same properties as the synovial fluid is injected into the joint. It helps in increasing the flexibility of joint movement and reduce pain.
Corticosteroids injection- this is an anti-inflammatory medication that is directly injected into the joint. Apart from reducing swelling, it also reduces joint pains in treatment of Osteoarthritis.
