Healing osteoarthritis: is it possible?
Created: 2022-08-04 06:37
By: Juliane Gutmann
The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age.
Joint wear and tear can be prevented and progression can also be slowed down.
But is healing possible?
Our joints are constantly stressed.
Climbing stairs, playing sports, hacking at the keyboard: the joints are in action in almost every activity.
That leaves traces.
If the wear and tear of the joints is far advanced and is accompanied by pain or other symptoms, doctors speak of pathological arthrosis.
As the Rheuma-League, the largest German self-help organization, informs, osteoarthritis damages the articular cartilage.
This cannot be repaired and cannot renew itself, it is said.
Due to the increasing loss of articular cartilage, the natural buffering function of healthy cartilage dwindles and the bones beneath the cartilage are subject to increased stress, the Dresden University Hospital informs.
Often the knee or both knees are affected, but also on the fingers,
According to the current state of knowledge, arthrosis cannot be cured.
But those affected can do a lot to alleviate the symptoms and stop the progression.
Extreme sports can promote joint wear.
© Thomas Bartilla/Imago
Risk factors that promote arthrosis
- Permanent and disproportionately high stress (e.g. through competitive sports)
- high age
- injuries
- bacterial joint infections
- misalignments
- inflammatory rheumatic attack of a joint
- genetic predisposition
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Osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but the following rules of conduct alleviate symptoms
As with many diseases, the same applies to arthrosis: the earlier treatment begins, the better.
Destroyed cartilage cannot be rebuilt, but the existing cartilage mass must be preserved.
If you experience typical arthrosis symptoms such as pain, a feeling of stiffness and restricted movement of the affected joint, you should consult a doctor immediately.
If osteoarthritis is diagnosed, the following treatments can be effective:
physical therapy
Exercise: Exercise stimulates the metabolism and blood flow and supplies the synovial fluid with nutrients, according to information from the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).
Sports suitable for osteoarthritis patients include Nordic walking and swimming.
Weight reduction to normal weight
avoid alcohol
smoking cessation
Physical therapies: heat, cold and electricity can improve blood circulation in the affected joint and thus relieve pain, as the Apotheken Umschau informs.
X-ray stimulus radiation
Bandages and other aids such as walking sticks or special shoes
Painkillers (only after consultation with the doctor treating you)
Operation and use of artificial joints in advanced arthrosis
An anti-inflammatory diet can also relieve the symptoms. You can find out more in the article: The right diet for joint pain: chocolate, coffee and bananas for arthrosis?
