Arthritis can be defined as the inflammation of one or more joints. People with arthritis suffer from constant joint pain. The pain occurs due to the swelling of the joint;damage to the joint caused either by a disease or daily wear and tear; fatigue; deterioration of the cartilage that provides a padding to the joints and strained muscles caused by rigid movements of the affected joint. Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout and Pseudo-gout and Septic Arthritis are among the most common forms of Arthritis.
Arthritis is common in adults aged more than 65 years although it can affect people who are much younger too. People with arthritis find it difficult to perform their day to day functions. They find it difficult to stoop, bend or kneel that disables them to perform certain essential daily tasks.
Arthritis occurs due to a combination of many factors. It is difficult to single out one reason although we can list Injury, irregular metabolism, heredity, infections and Immune system dysfunction as some of the causes of Arthritis.
Rejuven8, a well-known clinic in Mumbai offers a host of treatment options for Arthritis.They also offer non-surgical treatment for osteoarthritis in Mumbai.
Painkillers:Pain medications are often prescribed for both inflammatory and non-inflammatory type of Arthritis. There are certain medicines that are prescribed over-the counter(OTC), Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain and aches.They have harmful side-effects when used on a continuous long term basis. Some common medications used to treat Arthritis depending on their type are:
• Analgesics: They relieve pain but do not act on inflammation
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs(NSAID): They provide relief from pain as well as inflammation.They are available as tablets, creams, gels and patches which can be applied on the affected area.
• Disease Modifying AntiRheumatic drugs(DMARDS): Used mainly in Rheumatoid Arthritis, they slow or stop the Immune system from attacking the joints.
• Corticosteroids: They help in reducing pain and supress the immune system.
Physical Activity:Though the pain caused by Arthritis might refrain one from exercising, but it is equally important to maintain the flexibility of muscles and the joints.Mild joint-friendly exercises along with walking, swimming and cycling help to prevent the joints from becoming rigid. All the physical activities must be done after consulting a physician.
Therapies:Therapies are advised by doctors to overcome the daily limitations on mobility and to help with the regular day-to-day tasks. Warm Water Therapy is where you exercise in a warm water pool. This relieves the pressure on the muscles and joints.Physiotherapy is exercising according to your physical condition. There are tailor-made exercising lessons prescribed by the physician. Occupational Therapy is managing your tasks in such a way that further damage to the joints and muscles is avoided.
EMRT: EMRT is short for Electro Magnetic Regeneration Therapy.It is a non-invasive, painless and drug-free method for treating Arthritis. Through this therapy, the cartilage, bones, intervertebral disc, ligaments and the joints of the tendons get healed. An Electro-magnetic field is produced through which a pulsed signal (electric signals that repeat at given intervals) is sent to the affected area which fires up the healing process.EMRT can be used to treat pain arising in shoulders, elbows, hands, fingers, knees, feet, ankles and toes. EMRT is the new age solution to treating various types of Arthritis, sports injuries and stress injuries.
Injection Therapy: Platelet-Rich Plasma, Prolotherapy and Adult Stem Therapy are the most powerful injection therapies as they help in regenerating and repairing the joint tissues which helps in enduring pain and might give permanent relief in many cases. Instead of injecting Corticosteroids and Hyaluronic acid which provide temporary fix to the problem, the above help in treating the problem from a long term perspective. Recent studies have also found Stem cell Therapy and Prolotherapy to be a powerful regenerative therapy.
Supplements:Glucosamine and acupuncture treatments are known to provide pain relief and slow the progress of arthritis. There are some who criticise this, as studies have failed to show their benefits. Glucosamine, when taken in theright dosage (1500 mg or higher) and the right type (hydrochloride) gives relief from pain. It is also known to decrease inflammation. Another natural ingredient called Collagen has been found to be helpful in reducing morning stiffness as it targets the inflammatory process that causes pain and cartilage deterioration.