Osteoarthritis Treatment

Osteoarthritis Treatment Abroad

Osteoarthritis is a medical condition which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. When the cartilage becomes damaged either through injury or natural wear and tear, the joints lose their natural cushion and can begin to rub against each other. This friction can become extremely painful and result in further orthopedic problems. The body is usually able to repair the cartilage naturally, but when it is not able to do so then medical treatment is required

Treatment for osteoarthritis is designed to help gradually restore a better range of motion to the joints, alleviate the symptoms and manage pain. The wearing down of cartilage and subsequent stiffness means that the joint is not able move as freely as it once could. Osteoarthritis can appear in any joint in the body, but it most commonly affects the knee, the spine, the hands and the hip. There is no cure for osteoarthritis and the condition is degenerative, meaning without effective treatment it will only get worse.

There is no exact cause behind osteoarthritis but there are a number of risk factors which make it more likely that someone will suffer from the condition. Osteoarthritis almost always appears in those over the age of 50, but some people may start experiencing symptoms as young as 45. Lifestyle factors may influence your chances of getting osteoarthritis, with obesity and general poor health seens as risk factors. There is also evidence to suggest that a family history of osteoarthritis may be a risk factor.

What treatments are there for osteoarthritis?

A number of medications can be used to help ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but they won’t be able to cure it. Physical therapy is usually used as a primary treatment for osteoarthritis. Patients are expected to undergo a course of physiotherapy over a number of weeks, and will work with a specialist on a number of exercises which aim to strengthen the joint and improve the range of motion. Again, while physiotherapy can go a long way in providing relief for the symptoms of osteoarthritis, it is only a temporary solution.

The most permanent solution for osteoarthritis is surgery. If the condition is affecting the hip or the knee then a full joint replacement may be needed, which replaces the damaged joint with an artificial one. If full joint replacement is not suitable then an osteotomy might be performed, a surgical procedure which removes a section of bone to reduce the pressure on the joint. Osteotomies are usually performed on younger patients, who may still need a full joint replacement in the future.

• Knee Replacement Abroad
• Hip Replacement Abroad
• Osteotomy Abroad