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Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis Care Measures
Patients with arthritis should first pay attention to rest in daily life, keep warm, avoid cold and dampness, avoid excessive strain on the knee joints, try to minimize going up and down stairs, and reduce exercises that involve bending and bearing weight on the knee joints. Additionally, obese patients should pay attention to losing weight to avoid further wear and tear on the cartilage. In terms of diet, it is important to enhance nutrition, appropriately supplementing foods rich in high-quality protein, calcium, and vitamins, such as chicken, fish, milk, eggs, beans, vegetables, fruits, etc. It is also important to get more sun exposure and appropriately supplement vitamin D. These nursing measures are beneficial for the patient's condition.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a disease caused by degenerative changes in the joints, with symptoms primarily manifesting as swelling, pain, fluid accumulation, and limited mobility in the joints. Severe cases may even lead to joint deformities and movement disorders. In terms of treatment for arthritis, it can be divided into non-surgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatment involves rest and avoiding strenuous activities to prevent further joint damage. It may also include the use of anti-inflammatory painkillers, chondroprotective drugs, or intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate to relieve symptoms. Additionally, treatments such as hot compresses and physical therapy can be used. When conservative treatment is ineffective or accompanied by limb deformities and movement disorders, joint replacement surgery may also be an option.
Differences between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly people, primarily due to long-term joint wear, leading to degeneration of the cartilage in the joints, causing symptoms of pain, swelling, and discomfort in movement. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis often begins in younger individuals and is linked to genetics and viral infections, primarily being an autoimmune disease. It is characterized by positive rheumatoid factor, including elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Additionally, the treatment methods for these two diseases are different. Osteoarthritis can mainly be managed with massage therapy, injections of sodium hyaluronate, and oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, might require the use of immunosuppressants, steroids, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. Importantly, rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the small joints of the fingers, whereas osteoarthritis most frequently affects larger joints, such as the knee, highlighting the fundamental differences between the two conditions. (Note: The answers provided are for reference only. Medications should be taken under the guidance of a professional physician, and self-medication should be avoided.)
Can osteoarthritis be treated with moxibustion?
The primary cause of osteoarthritis is degeneration, which can lead to damage, wear, and tear of cartilage within the joints, as well as the formation of excessive osteophytes and bone spurs around the joints. These changes cause symptoms such as knee pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. There are many treatment methods available, the most common of which include oral medication, rest, physical therapy, and moxibustion, all of which can help alleviate symptoms. However, these treatments only provide relief from the symptoms of osteoarthritis and do not cure the condition. If a cure is needed, surgical treatment, such as total knee replacement, may be necessary to fully recover. Conservative treatments like moxibustion can help relieve pain and reduce swelling, but they only offer relief and do not cure the condition. Therefore, while moxibustion can alleviate pain from knee arthritis, it cannot cure it.
Is soaking feet good for osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis can benefit from soaking the feet in warm water, slightly hotter if possible, as the feet have numerous nerves. This can promote blood circulation and facilitate metabolism, such as the elimination of bodily waste, which is beneficial, especially for middle-aged and elderly people, in preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Osteoarthritis depends on the location and is a chronic joint disease. Its primary pathological change is the degenerative alteration of the joint cartilage. Typically, this condition affects middle-aged and older individuals, more so women than men. Early changes include the deterioration of the joint cartilage, leading to the exposure of the subchondral bone, which can then cause periostitis, changes in the joint capsule, and surrounding muscles. Usually, it presents as rest pain, which may decrease with light activity. Treatment often involves nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate for lubrication and joint protection. In severe cases, joint replacement, such as knee replacement, may be necessary. Thus, soaking the feet can be beneficial for those with osteoarthritis.
Is hot compress good for osteoarthritis?
For patients with osteoarthritis, hot compresses are very effective. Hot compresses can promote local blood circulation, which can effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis. Usually, hot compresses are applied using hot water bottles, or by heating bran or salt, which are very effective. Typically, apply the hot compress twice a day, each time for more than half an hour. Additionally, aside from hot compresses, it is important to protect the affected area in patients with osteoarthritis, avoid exposure to cold, and reduce irritation to the area. When necessary, treatment may also need to be supplemented with medications, such as pain relievers and drugs that nourish the cartilage.
Characteristics of osteoarthritis pain
The characteristics of pain in patients with osteoarthritis mainly manifest as pain occurring frequently in the morning, which lessens after activity. However, if the activity is excessive, the pain can worsen. Another symptom is joint stiffness, which often occurs when getting up in the morning or after the joint has been in a certain position for a long time during the day. The affected joint may show symptoms such as swelling, pain, and a feeling of friction during movement. In severe cases, patients may experience muscle atrophy and joint deformity. Patients with osteoarthritis should pay attention to rest and avoid vigorous activities. They should use anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, as well as drugs that nourish the cartilage, to improve symptoms. When conservative treatment is ineffective and joint deformity or functional impairment occurs, joint replacement surgery may also be considered as a treatment option.
Is moxibustion okay for osteoarthritis?
Moxibustion for osteoarthritis is feasible; it can alleviate local symptoms of pain and swelling in osteoarthritis. Currently, there are two methods of treatment for osteoarthritis: The first is conservative treatment, which includes physical therapy, rehabilitation, moxibustion, acupuncture, oral medication, and injections of sodium hyaluronate, all of which can relieve symptoms of joint pain, swelling, and discomfort during movement. The second method is surgical treatment, which is considered when conservative treatment is ineffective, or when symptoms worsen after conservative treatment. Presently, there are two approaches to surgical treatment: The first involves arthroscopic minimally invasive cleaning of the joint, followed by further cleaning of the meniscus and synovium; the second method is joint replacement, with total knee replacement being the most common.
How to treat effusion in osteoarthritis?
General treatment methods are mainly divided into two categories. First, conservative treatment, which is non-surgical and includes rest, immobilization, localized physical therapy such as heat application, acupuncture, etc. Physical therapy includes techniques like spectrum therapy, infrared, and diathermy. For some patients with mild osteoarthritis and minor effusions, these can gradually be absorbed over one to two weeks, and symptoms of pain and swelling can be alleviated. This can be combined with oral intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as celecoxib or ibuprofen. For patients with recurrent episodes, or those who are middle-aged and above with severe osteoarthritis and degeneration, and have substantial effusion, conservative treatments are generally not very effective. Therefore, we can try aspirating the effusion in the knee joint and appropriately administer intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injections to promote the recovery of osteoarthritis and delay the degeneration of bone proliferation. If conservative treatment still does not bring significant relief, then arthroscopic debridement and corresponding surgical treatments for the knee joint may be considered.