The exercise program that will work best for you is one that fits your lifestyle
and physical abilities. Doctors generally recommend a combination of stretching exercises,
mild strengthening exercises (such as lifting weights), and low-impact aerobic exercises
(such as swimming, walking, or bicycling).
It's important to talk to your doctor before you begin any regular exercise
program. Your doctor can help you determine which exercises are best for you, how
often you should exercise, how much exercise you should do, and how to time your
medication (if you are taking medication for your arthritis) to make your exercise
session more comfortable. Your doctor may recommend that you work with a physical
therapist to design a program that is right for you.
Make exercise a part of your life If your exercise routine is comfortable
and enjoyable for you, it will become a habit that will be easy to keep up. It doesn't
have to be a formal exercise program. Just fitting more activity into your daily
routine, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator and walking or riding
your bike instead of driving, can provide many benefits.
You will get the most out of your exercise program if you plan workouts for those
times of the day when your pain is least severe and your joints most flexible. For
many people, pain and stiffness are often worse in the morning than at other times.
If this is the case for you, try exercising after you have taken a hot shower, which
can help loosen your joints.
When you are exercising, doing housework or chores, or engaging in other activities,
rest frequently, change positions regularly, and stretch your muscles between periods
of exertion. Pacing your activities throughout the day can help you save energy and
reduce stress on your joints. It is best to exercise several times throughout the
day for shorter periods than to do it all in one long session. Begin and end each
exercise session with a warm-up and cooldown by walking around slowly for 5 minutes
before and after. Exercise at a rate at which you can speak comfortably.
Warning You have exercised too much if you have sharp pains or more pain than usual while you are exercising, or if you have pain 2 hours after you exercise. Stop exercising immediately and call your doctor if you have chest pain, severe dizziness, difficulty breathing, or an upset stomach. |
Analgesics Doctors often first recommend an analgesic (pain reliever) called
acetaminophen for people who have osteoarthritis. Acetaminophen is the active ingredient
in many over-the-counter pain relievers. Acetaminophen does not cause stomach irritation
like some other pain relievers, such as aspirin. For this reason, doctors usually
prescribe it for older people and for those who have had ulcers (open sores in the
stomach lining) or bleeding problems.
Acetaminophen is more effective when it is used regularly than when it is used only
occasionally. The drug does not reduce inflammation (redness, warmth, and swelling),
but inflammation is not as much of a problem in osteoarthritis as it is in some other
types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) NSAIDs are often used for relieving
the pain of osteoarthritis. The most frequently used NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen,
and naproxen. Like acetaminophen, these drugs relieve pain in the affected joints.
They may reduce inflammation as well, which is why they are called anti-inflammatory
medications. Many NSAIDs are available over the counter, but stronger ones require
a prescription from a doctor.
Ibuprofen and naproxen Ibuprofen and naproxen are the two over-the-counter
NSAIDs that doctors recommend most often for relieving pain caused by osteoarthritis.
These drugs may be more effective than aspirin in reducing symptoms and improving
movement in the joints, and they usually cause less stomach irritation than aspirin.
Like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen can cause stomach irritation when they are used
for several months or longer. This stomach irritation can eventually lead to ulcers
(open sores in the lining of the stomach), which can sometimes be life-threatening.
For this reason, if you are taking ibuprofen or naproxen, you should tell your doctor
right away about any signs of stomach irritation (such as heartburn) or bleeding
inside your stomach (such as dark stools). Your doctor is likely to recommend a lower
dose of the medication or prescribe the analgesic acetaminophen, which does not cause
stomach irritation.
Aspirin Aspirin, which is an NSAID, is often recommended for relieving the
pain of arthritis. It can be a very effective pain reliever for many people with
osteoarthritis. However, in some people, long-term use of aspirin can cause ulcers.
If aspirin irritates your stomach (which you may feel as heartburn or similar symptoms
of stomach upset), your doctor may recommend trying the enteric-coated aspirin tablets,
which do not release their contents until they reach the intestines. If you still
have stomach irritation with the enteric-coated aspirin, your doctor may recommend
acetaminophen, or an NSAID that is not as irritating as aspirin.
Corticosteroids Corticosteroids are man-made substances that are related to
cortisone, a naturally occurring hormone that your body makes. Corticosteroids are
used to reduce pain and inflammation (redness, warmth, and swelling). In some cases,
a doctor will give these drugs by injection directly into the affected joint. Although
the shot cannot stop the progression of osteoarthritis, it may help relieve the symptoms
for many months.
Corticosteroids are strong drugs that can cause serious side effects, such as damage
to bones and cartilage (the cushioning tissue inside joints). For this reason, these
shots are given no more than a few times a year.
Surgery
Surgery is usually done only in severe, disabling cases of arthritis for which other
treatments have failed. In fact, most people who have osteoarthritis will never need
to have surgery. If your doctor recommends surgery, it's a good idea to get
an evaluation from another doctor to be sure the surgery is absolutely necessary.
When surgery is necessary, it is performed by an orthopedic surgeon (a doctor who
specializes in surgery on bones and joints). Surgery may be done to prevent the joint
from becoming deformed, to correct a deformity, to remove bonelike material from
around the joint to allow for greater movement, or to replace a damaged joint with
an artificial one.
Replacing a joint There are now artificial devices to replace almost any joint
in the body. Joint replacement surgery is most frequently done to repair hips and
knees, but is also done to repair ankles, finger joints, wrists, and toes. A successful
joint replacement relieves pain and restores most of the joint's movement.
For a joint replacement, the surgeon first removes all the damaged bone from the
joint. Artificial replacement parts are then cemented to the healthy bone that remains.
For younger people who are more active, doctors sometimes use newer artificial joints
that do not require cement to stay in place. Instead, the artificial joint is designed
with spaces into which the person's own bone can grow; this holds the artificial
joint in place more naturally. By avoiding the use of cement, which can weaken over
time, these artificial joints usually last longer than those that are held in place
with cement.
Recovery from joint replacement surgery depends on several factors, including your
general health and your level of activity before the surgery. For this reason, it
is not a good idea to put off the surgery for long. The more active you are before
your surgery, the faster your recovery is likely to be. Hip replacement and knee
replacement surgery require more time for recovery than replacement of smaller joints,
such as those in the fingers, wrists, toes, or ankles.
If you have hip or knee replacement surgery, you will probably spend no more than
7 days in the hospital. You will be encouraged to start walking with the help of
a walker or cane while you are still in the hospital. It's important to begin
moving as soon as possible after surgery to get your blood flowing. This helps prevent
blood clots from forming in your legs, which can occur from lack of activity. Your
doctor may also prescribe medication to prevent your blood from clotting.
Although complications from joint replacement are rare, the new joint can become
infected or slip out of place after surgery. For this reason, your doctor will ask
you to come in regularly for checkups after your surgery so that he or she can monitor
your healing and recovery.
Joint replacement surgery is serious and will cause a short period of disability
during your recovery. Complete recovery can take from about 3 to 6 months. Most people
who have a hip or knee replaced will need physical therapy to help them regain their
mobility. A physical therapist will recommend special exercises to help you build
up the muscles around your new artificial joint. Your physical therapy will start
in the hospital shortly after surgery and you will continue it on your own at home.
Here are some things you can do to make your recovery easier:
Immobilizing a joint A surgical procedure called arthrodesis is sometimes
used to correct severe joint problems caused by osteoarthritis. In this procedure,
the surgeon makes the affected joint permanently immobile by inserting a metal or
plastic screw or using a special type of plaster to hold the joint in place. Arthrodesis
is performed only when the pain from osteoarthritis is so severe that immobilizing
the joint is an improvement. This procedure is usually performed on smaller joints,
such as those in the toes or fingers.
Removing bone Osteotomy (which means "cutting of a bone") is a surgical
procedure that is not frequently performed. It is used mostly for younger people who have
osteoarthritis, usually in a hip or knee. The procedure is most often done to repair
a joint that arthritis has damaged unevenly. This uneven damage can put more stress
on the cartilage (the cushioning tissue inside the joint) and cause further damage.
For an osteotomy, the surgeon removes a small piece of bone near the affected joint.
This realigns the bone and improves the contact between the remaining, healthy areas
of cartilage in the joint. This procedure may be a good solution for younger people
with arthritis because it can delay joint replacement surgery for years.
"Scoping" a joint Arthroscopy is a procedure that is being used increasingly
to diagnose and sometimes repair joints. The procedure is performed most often on
knees and shoulders. For arthroscopy, the doctor uses a long viewing tube called
an arthroscope that he or she inserts through a small incision in the skin over the
affected joint. The arthroscope, which has a light and a tiny video camera at its
tip, can be inserted directly into the fluid-filled space in the joint.
Through the arthroscope, the doctor can look for any tissue damage and make necessary
repairs. He or she may use the tube to remove damaged areas of cartilage or cartilage
particles that may be causing irritation. This may provide temporary relief of symptoms,
especially if the osteoarthritis is caused by an injury, such as a torn piece of
cartilage. However, this repair may not stop the progression of the arthritis. Arthroscopy
is performed on an outpatient basisit does not require an overnight stay in
the hospital.
Osteoarthritis Case Study |
Osteoarthritis Index