3 Things to Manage your Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease. It usually affects elderly people or those who have had a joint injury in the past. When the cartilage in the joint (gel-like tissue that cushions the bones from grinding against each other) breaks down, the bones rub against one another, leading to pain and swelling. Other symptoms include weakness, reduced mobility and bone spurs.

Living with osteoarthritis is a challenge. The pain and other symptoms cause suffering, making even daily everyday activities difficult. Fortunately, people with osteoarthritis can reduce the severity of their symptoms with the following tips.

Lose extra weight

If you’re overweight or obese, it exerts a lot of extra pressure on your bones and joints. People with excess weight are more vulnerable to osteoarthritis, especially of joints that bear weight – knees, hips, or ankles. So, the best thing you can do, to prevent or manage osteoarthritis, is to shed those extra pounds.

To ensure you stay in good shape, all you need to do is make healthy eating choices and stay active. Here are a few habits that may be adding to your weight.

• drinking soda
• skipping breakfast
• snacking on sweets
• driving everywhere
• eating out all the time
• going to bed late

Here are a few simple habits can help you reduce your body weight.

• Drink more water
• Start each day with a breakfast
• Snack on vegetables
• Walk more
• Cook wholesome, nutritious meals at home
• Get 6-8 hours of sleep every night

Strengthen your joints with exercise

One of the most important things that can prevent osteoarthritis is exercising to strengthen the joints. Strong muscles support and protect your joints. Begin with low-intensity exercise, such as Nordic-walking. Gradually, make your workout more intense with weight and resistance training. But you first need to check with your doctor how much and what types of exercise you can do. Your orthopedic doctor can assess what kind of exercise will work best for you.

Consulting an experienced orthopedic doctor

For osteoarthritis, many treatment options are available. But every individual is unique and different treatments work for different people. Hence, it is best to consult your orthopedic doctor for an accurate diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan. Treatment options include –

• Medication
• Exercise and physical therapy
• Steroid injections
• Hyaluronic injections
• Orthopedic bracing
• Joint arthroscopy
• Joint replacement surgery

The most suitable treatment option depends on your symptoms and the extent of damage to the joints and your overall health. Don’t ignore your pain. The sooner you have your joints checked, the faster you can start the treatment and relieve pain.

If you are looking for the best knee replacement surgery and orthopedic treatments, consult the best knee and orthopedic surgeons in Phoenix, call FXRX Inc. at 480-449-3979. Dr. Sumit Dewanjee at FXRX Inc. is a Board-Certified Orthopedic surgeon who has been recognized with the prestigious Patient’s Choice Award for eight years in a row.

Fxrx is a leading clinic based in Tempe, Arizona that provides board certified orthopedic surgeon in and around Phoenix.