Is osteoarthritis easy to treat?

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 27, 2024
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Osteoarthritis is a difficult-to-treat disease because currently, there is no complete cure for joint disorders in medicine. Therefore, the treatment principles are early diagnosis, early treatment, and early rehabilitation. Mainly, methods are used to delay the progression of the disease, maximally preserve joint function, and enable patients to live normal lives. The first approach is non-pharmacological treatment, which is the foundation for drug therapy and surgical treatment, primarily involving physical therapy methods such as heat therapy, hydrotherapy, traction, microwave therapy, acupuncture, and massage to alleviate joint pain and swelling during acute flare-ups. The second approach is pharmacological treatment, mainly including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and traditional Chinese medicine. The third approach involves considering surgical treatment if conservative treatments prove ineffective. Surgical treatments can involve procedures such as joint debridement to remove inflamed, loose cartilage and bone tissues, and smoothing rough joint surfaces. If these methods are still ineffective, the last treatment option may be needed for severe cases, which is artificial joint replacement. Thus, the treatment of osteoarthritis is a stepwise approach. However, regardless of the treatment method used, there is currently no cure, making osteoarthritis a challenging disease to treat.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
1min 20sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Can osteoarthritis exercise?

Osteoarthritis often occurs due to the degeneration associated with aging, causing damage to the essential cartilage, leading to symptoms such as joint pain and deformities during movement. In the case of osteoarthritis, it is crucial to keep warm and rest, avoid exposure to cold, and minimize knee-joint load-bearing activities such as mountain climbing and stair climbing. Instead, choosing activities like Tai Chi and swimming, which cause less joint wear, can help alleviate symptoms and prevent accelerated cartilage damage.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
53sec home-news-image

Osteoarthritis contraindications

Patients with osteoarthritis should reduce joint load and excessive movements, and obese patients should pay attention to weight loss to avoid aggravating cartilage damage. When symptoms are severe, a cane can be used to alleviate the burden on the joints. In terms of diet, one can eat more foods rich in vitamins, mainly various vegetables and fruits, and also consume foods high in calcium appropriately. Patients with arthritis should also pay attention to protecting the joint areas, and guard against cold and dampness to avoid exacerbating symptoms. When symptoms are severe, medication can also be used for treatment, such as anti-inflammatory analgesics and drugs that nourish cartilage, which can play a role in improving symptoms and delaying the progression of the disease. When mobility is impaired, surgical treatment might be necessary.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
1min 10sec home-news-image

What foods should be eaten for osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is generally divided into two main categories. The first category is liver and kidney deficiency, commonly seen in older adults. For this condition, it is advocated to consume foods that nourish the liver and kidney. Black foods are considered to benefit the kidneys, such as black rice, black beans, black goat, and black pork. Other foods like He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), Rehmannia glutinosa, Coix seed, and Chinese yam also help nourish the liver and kidney and can be beneficial for the condition. The second category is Qi stagnation and blood stasis type, where it is recommended to eat foods that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. In Western medicine, there are no specific dietary recommendations for treating osteoarthritis, except for general advice for elderly women to consume calcium-rich foods to prevent bone-related issues. Foods recommended include milk, eggs, and lean meat, which are rich in protein and calcium, and it is encouraged to consume more of these.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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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.