Osteoarthritis is a joint disorder in which the cartilage in between your bone joints wears down and your bones begin to rub on one another. When this occurs, the pain can be very severe in some cases, making even minor tasks difficult, including sleeping. If you have osteoarthritis, the pain can be managed, and in some cases, it can be treated with surgery. This type of disorder can be diagnosed with an x-ray or with an MRI. If you are experiencing pain in your joints, it may be osteoarthritis. Read on for some treatment tips.
Over-The-Counter Pain Reliever
Using an over-the-counter pain reliever can help with the pain associated with this disorder. If you have pain in your joints constantly, an over-the-counter pain medication can help you manage the pain; however, this is only going to offer you temporary relief, and you cannot take this medication for an extended period of time. Most manufacturers recommend that you do not take the pain relievers for more than 14 days at a time as it could result in damage to the lining of your stomach. Consult your physician about what type of pain relievers are safe to use for an extended period of time.
Anti-Inflammatory
Taking an anti-inflammatory can help with the swelling that you may encounter from this disorder. An anti-inflammatory can be prescribed by your physician, although an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen can also help with this. If you have swelling in your joints, it can make moving difficult, and your range of motion may not be what it once was. Taking this medication can help.
Exercise Or Physical Therapy
Although you may not have the range of motion you want to have, and you may also not have the will to move too much, exercise can actually help you with this disorder. It can help keep you active, and it can assist you in losing weight, which can also make osteoarthritis manageable. Talk to your podiatrist about what types of exercises or physical therapy you can do to help manage the pain in your feet and ankles.
If you have pain in your feet and ankle joints, or your other joints as well, you may have osteoarthritis. This is a disorder that is treatable, although it is not curable. Talk to your podiatrist about the pain you are experiencing and what can be done to manage and treat the pain.
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