| Osteoarthritis is another name for degenerative joint | | | | diagnosed, the physician concentrates on three types |
| disease. Normally, the ends of the bones in our joints | | | | of therapies. If you are experiencing pain in the joint, |
| are covered with cartilage. The purpose of the | | | | some type of pain reliever will be prescribed. If your |
| cartilage is to reduce friction and act as a shock | | | | pain is light and occasional, aspirin may be |
| absorber. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to | | | | recommended. |
| deteriorate. This permits the bones to rub against | | | | When osteoarthritis affects the hands, doctors of |
| one another. | | | | alternative medicine often recommend an analgesic |
| It was once believed that osteoarthritis was a natural | | | | cream containing capsaicin. Capsaicin is a natural |
| condition of aging due to wear and tear on the joints. | | | | substance found in chili peppers. When applied to the |
| Scientists now believe that aging does not cause | | | | affected area it has been effective in relieving pain |
| osteoarthritis. They look to other factors such as | | | | and tenderness of the joints. The cream is available |
| obesity, heredity, and injuries or other diseases. | | | | at many drug stores and most health food stores. |
| Osteoarthritis affects both men and women equally | | | | One should take care to follow the directions |
| but in different places. In men it tends to develop in | | | | carefully. Secondly, the physician will try to prevent |
| the hips, knees and spine. Women have it in their | | | | overuse of the joint by recommending weight loss, |
| hands and knees. Women also tend to have hard | | | | canes, or splints. |
| bony growths on the joint nearest the fingertip. | | | | Finally, physical therapy and exercise may be |
| These are called Heberden nodes. Symptoms occur in | | | | prescribed to improve muscle tone. Exercise is very |
| men before age 45 but in women after age 55. | | | | beneficial in slowing the progress of the disorder. |
| When the cartilage deteriorates, the bone sometimes | | | | Three kinds of exercise are prescribed. The first |
| becomes thickened and distorted. Movement is | | | | type comprises daily exercises to improve flexibility. |
| painful and difficult so the person uses the muscles | | | | The second involves muscle strengthening exercises |
| less often. Then the unused muscle begins to | | | | and the third is low-impact aerobic such as swimming |
| atrophy. | | | | or walking. Sometimes there is no alternative but |
| The symptoms develop very gradually over the | | | | surgery. Hip and knee replacement are common |
| years. In the hands, usually the joints of the thumbs | | | | procedures. However, in order to undergo this type |
| and fingertips are affected. The large knuckles are | | | | of surgery, the individual will need to be in good |
| not generally involved. However, another form of | | | | health and not obese. It is very important that |
| arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis does affect the large | | | | people who are overweight and develop |
| knuckles. If you experience restricted movement in a | | | | osteoarthritis make every effort to lose the excess |
| joint or if it is painful you need to visit your doctor. | | | | weight. Every pound puts additional pressure on the |
| Sometimes a doctor will need to do x-rays or use | | | | affected joint and makes usage more difficult and |
| other imaging devices to make a diagnosis. Once | | | | more painful. |