Franks Advice on Arthritis
Monday, 03 August 2009 00:00
LOTS of people are affected by arthritis, a condition where the joints get inflamed and painful. There are two types which you can suffer from - rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is quite serious and needs medical treatment by a doctor but osteoarthritis is actual wear and tear of the joints. As you get older, osteoarthritis tends to become a problem due to this wear and tear, but sufferers can be of any age especially if there has been an injury of the joint.
Normally joints renew themselves just like all other parts of the body, but, with age, this starts to break down, with wear of both cartilage and
bone. Usually it affects the load bearing joints of the legs, hips and back first. Symptoms can vary but usually are pain, stiffness and limitation of movement, also swelling of the joints.
Treatment of Osteoarthritis is fairly simple and some lifestyle changes can make a big difference to symptoms:
- Exercise regularly to strengthen muscles round the joints.
- Sometimes a shoe or joint support can help; ask your pharmacist or physiotherapist.
- Physiotherapy. Your physiotherapist can give you advice on exercise, keeping fit and supports for shoes and joints.
- Medicines and Food Supplements. A low acid diet can benefit. Ask your pharmacist.
- Paracetamol. This works well to treat pain and taken regularly can help keep pain away rather than being taken when suffering pain. Two 500mg tablets up to four times a day is quite safe and can be taken long term. Ask your pharmacist.
- Anti-inflammatory Rubs. These gels and creams are good for rubbing into painful joints. They are much safer than the tablets.
- Anti-inflammatory tablets. These are effective for flare-ups of osteoarthritis but because of their side effects and are best taken in short spells then paracetamol for the in between period. Ask your Pharmacist about this.
- Heat producing rubs can be effective when joints are painful.
- Glucosamine. This is classed as a food supplement with a minimum dose of 1500mg daily, either on its own or with chondroitin, it can help the joint to stay healthy. It is important to avoid glucosamine of you are allergic to shellfish and you must ask your pharmacist if you are on any other medication.
Ask at your local pharmacy for information about self-help groups and local meetings on arthritis.
