Healthcare Spotlight

Dr. Gaurav Rajpal - Understanding Arthritis And Joint pain

Understanding Arthritis: Types, Sympto🐓ms, and Effective Management of Osteoarthritis and Joint Pain.

Dr. Gaurav Rajpal
Dr. Gaurav Rajpal
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  • Arthritis is a broad term that refers to the inflammation of joints resulting in joint pain, sweℱ🎐lling, stiffness and limited range of motion.

  • There are💎 ওmore than 100 types of arthritis with different causes and treatments, most commonly being,

    • Ankylosing Spondylitis

    • Gout

    • Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

    • Osteoarthritis

    • Rheumatoid Arthritis

  • The most commonly affected joints are:4,5

    • Hands (ends of the fingers and at the base and✅ ends of the thumbs).

    • Knees.

    • Hips.

    • Neck.

    • Lower back.

In some types, other organs, such as your eyes, heart, or skin, can also be affect𒁏ed.

Osteoarthritis and Pain

  • Among the various types♎, osteo🅺arthritis (OA) is a prevalent form of arthritis.

  • It is a degenerative joint disease in whichဣ the tissues in the♓ joint break down over time.

  • Though both genders are suscepᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚtible to it, with its prevalence increasing with age, wo♈men are more likely to be manifested by the condition.

  • Apart from age, obesity and family history can also t♒rigger osteoarthritis.

It is important to note that osteoarthritis affects each person differently. For some, it is relatively mild and does not affect day-to-day activities, while for other👍s, it causes significant pain and disability.

Osteoarthritis symptoms typically occur gradually, often affecting one or a few joints initially. Common symptoms include:

  • Joint Pain

  • Joint stiffness

  • Alterations in joint structure

  • Swelling in and around the joint

  • The sensation of joint looseness or instability.

Management of OA Pain

Managing OA pain involves a multimodal approach tailored to individual needs and preferences. Treatment strategies may includ🅠e:

  • Regular physical activity, including yoga, aerobic exercise, streng♏th training, and flexibility exercises

  • Maintaining a healthy weight

  • Over-the-counter or prescription medications as suggested by your Dr.

  • Physical therapy interventions, including manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, modali🤡ties (e.g., heat, cold, ultrasound), and joint protection techniques

  • Using assistive devices such as♈ braces, splints, canes, or ortಞhotic inserts

  • Adopting healthy lifestyle habits, such as maintaining good posture, avoiding repetitive stress on j🌳oint💟s, practicing joint-friendly activities, and implementing ergonomic modifications

  • Surgical options such as joint replacement surgery (e.g., knee 𓂃replacement, hip replacement) or ꦇarthroscopic surgery

Osteoarthritis is a♏ severe but manageable condition. Working closely with healthcare professionals and formulating individualized treatment plans can help mitigate the symptoms and empower the individual to live well wi🍸th OA.

Issued in Public Interest by Dr.Reddy's Laboratories LTD