Natsuko Karasawa writes:
Ms. Kashiwagi is afraid that she might have rheumatoid arthritis or some other kind of arthritis. She tells that she has been feeling more and more fatigued lately, and the cracking and stiffness in her left knee sometimes is very painful. In addition, she has noticed that her left knee gets swollen and red, especially when she has to work late into the night. Because of some symptoms, it is considered that she may have osteoarthritis. First, the disorder often develops in only one joint. Second, it dose not develop suddenly because she injured the same knee during practice when she was college (20 years ago). Third, the pain comes and goes and increases or decreases in severity, and it is worse after long periods of inactivity such as late into the night. Also the cracking and stiffness are symptoms of osteoarthritis. But osteoarthritis usually does not cause inflammation in the joint, and does not cause a general felling of sickness, such as fatigue. So, I cannot say that she may not have rheumatoid arthritis. Since X-rays can show if a bone is damaged by osteoarthritis, I need to take X rays of the affected joints.
She tells that she will not undergo ACL surgery under any circumstances. Surgery is usually done only in severe cases. In fact, most people who have osteoarthritis will never need to have surgery. So, she must lean more basic treatments. Over the two years she has stopped exercising altogether, and has gained 7 or 8 kilos. This brings the stiffness of her left knee. First, she must try weight loss and exercise that are usually the first treatments recommended. Losing weight can help relieve the pressure and strain on her joints, reducing the wear and tear that can cause damage to the tissues inside the joint. It can also help reduce the pain and stiffness in the affected joints, especially those in the hips, knees, back, and feet. The best way to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight is to eat less and exercise more. But high-impact exercises can put too much pressure on your joints and can worsen symptoms. So, she should avoid jogging, tennis or steps aerobics. One the other hand, stretching, strengthening and fitness exercises, such as swimming and walking, are good for the joints. Swimming is especially good because the water supports reduces stress on knee joints. Walking is also a good exercise for relieving the pain and stiffness of arthritis. And it can be done anywhere, at any time. So I suggest swimming and walking. If weight loss and exercise are not effective in reliving her symptoms, I may recommend medication.
Osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but it can be treated. She must not forget that one of the most powerful weapons is a positive attitude. She should learn about osteoarthritis and its effects and treatment, and think control over her pain. Some active approaches to her illness may help her. For example, thinking how to break pains, how to relive negative feelings, and so on. Additionally, she must prevent to be worse her knee, she should think how to protect. For instance, never squat or kneel, and so on. When lifting an object that is low or on the ground, she should bend at knees and left by straightening legs, keeping back straight. Though she is afraid of becoming sicker and looking older, she need not fear it. If she cannot do something because of illness, she should try to ask for help. Her positive attitude will boost the effectiveness of her treatment.
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