Asami Satoh writes:
Yoko Kashiwagi is 42-year-old media executive. She was a marathon runner in her college days, and continued to run and exercise regularly well into her 30s. But for the last five years her business responsibilities have prevented her from getting much exercise, and over the last two years she has stopped exercising altogether, has taken up smoking cigarettes, and has gained 7 or 8 kilos. Over the same period, she has been finding it increasingly more difficult to move her left knee. It gets swollen and red. And she sometimes hears a crackling sound with pain. Additionally the affected knee she injured when she was marathon runner in her college days. So , in view of these fact, I think she might have osteoarthritis. In general, symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain or stiffness in or near a joint, bony swelling in a joint,crackling noises when you move a joint and mild inflammation in a joint. The pain from osteoarthritis can be deep and aching in or near the affected joint. In sever cases, it may result from bone rubbing against bone. Although she is afraid that she might have rheumatoid arthritis. But her symptoms appear only her left knee, and develop slowly over several years, don't cause a general feeling of sickness. So she may not have rheumatoid arthritis but osteoarthritis, I think. To make an accurate diagnosis, I need as much information as she can provide. So I must take X-rays of the affected joints, and hear her and her family medical history.
Next there are several general types of treatment for osteoarthritis. For example, weight loss, exercise, medication, and surgery etc. Weight loss and exercise are usually the first treatments recommended. Because of the potential side effects of many drugs that are used for treating osteoarthritis, medication is usually recommended only after weight loss and exercise have not been effective in relieving symptoms. Surgery is recommended only for severe.
In explanation of each type of treatment, first, being overweight is the most common cause of excess pressure on the joints and can increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis. Weight loss can help relieve the pressure and strain on your joints,and can also help reduce the pain and stiffness in the affected joints. The best way to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight is to eat less and exercise more. There is no scientific evidence that eating or not eating certain foods will prevent or control osteoarthritis. So she should eat the same healthy diet that is recommended for everyone, one that includes lots of foods that are low in fat and high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes (dried beans, peas, and lentils). As for exercise, regular exercise is known to be very effective for relieving the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis and may help slow the progression of the disease.It is good for patients of arthritis to strengthens the muscles that support your joints, which helps protect the joints from further damage and can reduce the pain of arthritis, and improves the flexibility of your joints; the more flexible the affected joints are, the more easily she can move them without pain. Pacing her activities throughout the day can help her save energy and reduce stress on her 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 cool down by walking around slowly for 5 minutes before and after. Especially swimming is good , because the water supports her weight, which reduces stress on those joints. And more convenient exercise is walking. It is also a good exercise for relieving the pain and stiffness of arthritis. She can do it anywhere, at any time. Going for regular walks with a friend or family member is a good way to develop the habit of staying active. However if she have pain 2 hours after her exercise, I recommend to stop exercising immediately.
And it is more effective that heat and cold are used with these treatments. Some people get better results with heat; others prefer cold. Heat, with heating pads or hot packs or by sitting in a hot tub or heated pool, is usually used to relax muscles and sometimes to warm them up before exercising. Cold, with ice or reusable cold packs, to a sore joint reduces the pain by numbing the area.If weight loss and exercise are not effective in relieving her symptoms, I may recommend medication. It's important to remember that all drugs used to treat osteoarthritis, whether they are over the counter or prescribed by a doctor, can cause side effects in other parts of the body. Topical (which means "applied to the skin") medications are creams, rubs, or sprays that you apply on your skin over a sore muscle or joint to temporarily relieve pain. But do not use a heating pad or bandage with a topical pain reliever because you can burn your skin. Besides this, NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) 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. 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.
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. Especially, Ms. Kashiwagi doesn't want to undergo surgery under any circumstances. So, for the time being, there is no need for her to undergo surgery.
Most people with osteoarthritis live full, active lives. Those who do best are managing their disease in partnership with their doctor. So she needs to learn how to manage her pain, control her weight, and use exercise most effectively. The first step in managing the disease is learning about osteoarthritis and its effects and treatment. It's a good idea to start keeping written records as soon as she notices symptoms. Many people find it beneficial to join a support group of other people who have arthritis. In a support group, people learn from each other by sharing their experiences and insights. One of the most powerful weapons against arthritis is a positive attitude. It is better to arrange furniture for safety and comfort. If possible, avoid the need to climb stairs by moving your bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen to one floor. It is better to wear well-cushioned athletic shoes with good support whenever you can. For dress shoes, wear shoes with a heel no higher than 1 inch and that have a wide toe area and good arch support. Besides this, she can try to make her circumstance comfortable.
In addition, she must stop smoking. Because smoking is believed to be a risk factor for developing the inflammatory type of arthritis called rheumatoid arthritis. smoking worsens the outcome of rheumatoid arthritis in people who have the disease. The most important thing is that her family members and friends can play a critical role in helping her learn to live with arthritis. Talking with loved ones about the difficulties her are having can help prevent depression and improve her ability to cope with her illness. Don't be afraid to ask for help whenever she need it. People are willing to help? They usually just need to be asked.
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