A wear and tear arthritis which can affect any joint in the body, osteoarthritis is a common disease in the middle and later years of life. You can ease much of your osteoarthritis-related discomfort by adopting a healthy lifestyle and using simple self-care techniques, but if the disease has set in your doctor may recommend a combination of medication, self-care and exercise. In some cases, surgery may be necessary.
w Shots in the joint:
Sometimes, a doctor may suggest injecting an arthritic joint with a derivative of hyaluronic acid, a substance found naturally in joint fluid. A series of injections of one of these medications may provide pain relief for osteoarthritis of the knee.
w Dietary supplements:
Some studies suggest that the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate can help ease the symptoms of arthritis by maintaining existing cartilage and stimulating new cartilage growth.
w Replacement surgery:
If you have long-term deterioration, your doctor may recommend replacing your damaged joint with an artificial one. Replacement surgery is most often performed on hip and knee joints. Sometimes simpler surgical techniques are sufficient. These include techniques designed to remove loose fragments of bone or cartilage that may cause pain or mechanical problems such as “locking.”
The writer is Senior Specialist, Safdarjung Hospital and Professor, VM Medical College and a well-known columnist