Pain is unfortunately something that a lot of people simply tend to live with because they think it is either a normal occurrence, or something that is just not worth visiting a doctor for. However, no matter what kind of pain you might be experiencing on a daily basis should be immediately consulted with a doctor, as you might be suffering from a treatable condition, such as osteoarthritis.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a condition which affects all parts of the joint. That means that it affects the bone, ligaments, the cartilage, and the muscles. When the term osteoarthritis is mentioned, that may include damage to the cartilage, inflammation of the tissue around the joint, bony spurs that grow around the joint, or the deterioration of ligaments and tendons.
There are different “versions” of osteoarthritis, as it can affect all the joints in the body. It does different things depending on what joint it affects, however, the most common areas that this condition can be diagnosed on are the knees, hips, and finger joints.
Pain in joints due to osteoarthritis can be quite severe
What can you do about it?
One of the main causes of osteoarthritis tends to be being overweight. People who tend to have a bit of extra weight on them tend to put extra pressure on certain joints depending on the work they do such as constant use of fingers while typing, or pressure on knees while lifting items. All that extra pressure causes damage to the joints, which often transitions into this condition.
Therefore, in order to avoid suffering from this condition, it is best to keep your body in shape, and to not overwork yourself by lifting things that might be too heavy for you. Another thing you can do in order to prevent from this condition from advancing is to visit a professional like arthritisCARE when you experience some kind of pain in joints, muscles, or ligaments.
Treatment
Because the cause of osteoarthritis is different depending on the area it shows on, as well as the family history regarding the condition, the treatment also differs based on the location. In most situations, losing weight and getting back in shape is more than enough, however, in more severe cases, that is not enough.
If osteoarthritis develops to certain points, which can sometimes take months and years, the solution may lie in getting some kind of medicine. You can get medication for osteoarthritis in Brisbane at arthritisCARE if you happen to be in the area, and you can get more information on the topic from a professional there as well.
How osteoarthritis affects the joint
Final Word
Osteoarthritis is becoming more common today as people tend to work more and take less care of themselves, which is unfortunate, as modern medicine allows more options compared to the ones that were available at the start of the millennium. Deciding to go for a random checkup every now and then is often a good idea in order to keep yourself healthy, and you should certainly do that if you have the time.