Tips for Dealing with Osteoarthritis

MediNurse, now in its fourth decade as the premier provider of private duty nursing in St. Louis, reminds the public that osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints.

OA occurs when the cartilage or cushion between joints breaks down, leading to pain, stiffness and swelling. Impacting nearly 27 million Americans, it can affect any joint but occurs most often in the knees, hips, lower back and neck, small joints of the fingers and the bases of the thumb and big toe.

OA is a chronic disease. There is no cure, but treatments are available to manage symptoms. Work with your healthcare provider to determine how best to safely lessen pain and stiffness and prevent more serious damage to your joints.

Tips to deal with OA include:

· Get moving! While it may be hard to think of exercise when the joints hurt, moving is important. Studies show that simple activities like walking around the neighborhood or taking a fun, easy exercise class can reduce pain and help maintain (or attain) a healthy weight. Your doctor might suggest strength-building exercises, range-of-motion exercises and/or aerobic exercises.

· Manage weight. Excess weight adds additional stress to weight-bearing joints. Losing weight can help reduce OA pain and limit further joint damage.

· Utilize pain and anti-inflammatory medications as indicated by your doctor.

· Consider physical and occupational therapy. Therapists can provide treatment options including teaching how to properly use joints, heat and cold therapies, exercises and assistive devices.

· Use assistive devices to help with function and mobility. These include items like scooters, canes, walkers, splints, shoe orthotics and helpful tools, such as jar openers, long-handled shoe horns and steering wheel grips.

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· Surgery might be recommended by your doctor. Joint surgery can repair or replace severely damaged joints, especially hips or knees.

MediNurse is St. Louis’ premier provider of private duty nursing services. MediNurse provides services that are customized to the individual needs of the client or patient and loved ones to ensure the best care possible. For more information, call 314-781-2800 or visit www.medinurse.com.