| The bad news: Osteoarthritis has no cure. The good | | | | ways to relieve strain on painful joints, improve body |
| news: You can treat its symptoms. Acetaminophen is | | | | alignment, and help you feel more relaxed and in |
| often recommended because it relieves pain with the | | | | control of your disease. You should do a few simple, |
| fewest side of effects. Over-the-counter NSAIDs | | | | carefully controlled mobility and stretching |
| such as aspirin and ibuprofen reduce inflammation as | | | | movements once or twice daily, even when your |
| well as pain and may be helpful. However, these | | | | joints are swollen and painful. |
| drugs can irritate the stomach. To prevent irritation, | | | | Rest is also important because it can lessen |
| try coated aspirin or take medication with meals. | | | | inflammation. The key is balance. Adjust the amount |
| If the pain is severe, your doctor may prescribe | | | | of rest and exercise according to the stage of your |
| stronger NSAIDs and, rarely, corticosteroid injections, | | | | disease and how you feel each day. Too much |
| shot directly into your joints. Topical therapy, with | | | | inactivity makes the conditions worse, but too much |
| creams that contain aspirin compounds, may also | | | | exercise puts you at risk for exhaustion, injury, and |
| relieve pain. Along with drug therapy, exercise, and | | | | more pain. Exercise as much as you can to increase |
| physical therapy, alternative arthritis treatments may | | | | movement and strength, improve the functioning of |
| also bring relief. | | | | the joints, and create better all-round physical |
| Below are ways to treat osteoarthritis: | | | | well-being. Learn to listen to your body and know |
| Self-treatment | | | | when it is telling you to take things easy. |
| Self-care is also a valuable tool in treating arthritis. | | | | Surgery |
| Learning to pace yourself during the day and getting | | | | Your doctor may recommend surgery if your joints |
| enough rest at night are two of the most important | | | | are severely damaged. One procedure, called |
| ways to help yourself if you have osteoarthritis. | | | | osteotomy, corrects bone deformity by cutting the |
| Rather than think about what you can no longer do, | | | | bone and repositioning it. Osteotomy is usually done |
| focus on what you can do instead. | | | | on the knee. Total joint arthroplasty involves |
| Regular exercise increases joint protection by | | | | resurfacing, or refining, the ends of the bones so |
| stimulating the production of synovial fluid, which | | | | they can move more freely against each other. This |
| coats the ends of the joints. Like oil, this thick | | | | term is also used for total joint replacement in which |
| substance lubricates your joints and may help | | | | the joint is removed and a metal, ceramic, or plastic |
| prevent further damage. Gently moving the joints | | | | device is inserted in its place. |
| and stretching the muscles and tendons are the best | | | | |