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There is no known cure for
osteoarthritis. However there are a large number of treatments and
methods of minimizing the effects of the condition. These include
several non-surgical options. The most effective of these is weight
loss. A weight reduction of 10 pounds equates to a reduction 50
pounds of force on the knee each time a step is taken, and the
average person takes 2 million steps per year!
The goals of osteoarthritis treatment
are as follows:
reduce the symptoms
maintain joint function
minimize disability
limit structural changes
Upon diagnosis your doctor will consult
with you to devise a treatment plan that meets the above objectives.
This will probably involve a combination of medication and education.
The medication will involve non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.
Exercise will usually be prescribed to keep the joints mobile. The
doctor will recommend various changes in lifestyle and activities to
reduce stress on the affected joint. Heat and cold therapies, such as
hot and cold presses, may also be recommended. As the condition
worsens the patient may require the use of assistive devices such as
tape, braces, splints or canes, along with physical or occupational
therapy.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy involves
treating people with extremely diluted agents that would not be
tolerable in their undiluted state. There are a number of possible
homeopathic treatments for osteoarthritis, depending on the specific
symptoms of the patient. Pain and stiffness that worsens in the
morning and is relieved by heat but aggravated by cold will be
treated with Rhus toxicodendron (poison ivy) Calcarea
carbonica (a remedy made from the middle layer of shells) is used
for arthritis made worse by cold or damp, especially when it is the
knees that are especially painful. Kali carbonicum (derived
from potassium carbonate or K2CO3 )may be used when arthritis has led
to permanently swollen or deformed joints.
There have been four clinically sound studies
relating to the benefits of homeopathy in treating osteoarthritis.
None of them have found significant benefit.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture
involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that
are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. For
centuries acupuncture has brought relief from the pain of
osteoarthritis to many people in the Orient. Today, many Westerners
also swear by this age old treatment. A 2004 randomized clinical
study at the University of Maryland monitored 570 patients for 6
months, making it the largest study ever conducted on acupuncture.
Participants were divided into three groups. The first group was
given acupuncture treatment, the second was given a sham acupuncture
treatment and the third attended an educational program developed by
the Arthritis Foundation. At the end of the study the acupuncture
group had significantly better function than the other groups and
reported less pain.
(Berman BM, Lao
L, Langenberg P, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive
therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled
trial. Annals of Internal Medicine Dec. 21,
2004;141(12)901-910).
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