Osteoarthritis is everywhere. It is the most common form of arthritis in the world. Doctors say that most people over 60 suffer from some degree of osteoarthritis and that nearly 30 million Americans are affected.
With so many people suffering, many medical treatments have been made available. Medicine is not always the answer, though. There are many holistic treatments for osteoarthritis that are as or more effective than the medical options.
Read on to learn a little more about osteoarthritis, how to tell if your pain may be caused by it, and how you can safely treat it from home.
Causes of Osteoarthritis
Many things can increase your chances of having or developing osteoarthritis. These include:
- Heredity
- Obesity
- Serious Injury
- Overuse of some joints
- Athletic Injuries and wear
- Abnormal joint positions
- Other diseases and conditions
If you feel like you’re at increased risk due to one or more of these things, you would consider proactive holistic treatments.
Signs You May Have Osteoarthritis
In many cases, osteoarthritis goes unnoticed for a long time. The symptoms are slow-developing and are confused for simple aches and pains long into their onset.
This breakdown of the cartilage in your joints can happen at any joint in your body. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you should consider exploring some holistic treatments now.
They could include joint pain and joint swelling. Even soreness and aching when you move your joints could be signs of deeper problems. If you experience increased pain after long periods of rest or long periods of joint usage, they may not be typical wear.
Later stages of osteoarthritis bring on the symptoms most often associated with the condition. These include joint swelling or bony growths in or around your joints in your fingers. These growths can be painful but aren’t always
Holistic Treatments for Osteoarthritis
If you do think you may be experiencing some osteoarthritis, don’t wait until it gets worse. These holistic treatment options are great, natural ways to treat the condition, but can also help ease some non-arthritis related aches and pains.
Exercise and Weight Loss
Whether aerobic or lightweight training, exercise is a great way to lessen the pain of any arthritis. Strengthen the muscles around infected areas can provide those joints with more support and generally keep them more healthy.
Cartilage itself is benefited from exercise, as increased blood flow brings more of its much-needed nutrients.
As obesity and weight gain can put undue stress on your joints, it stands to reason that losing weight can relieve some of that same stress. Healthy weight loss can go as far as to slow or stop the profession of many forms of arthritis, as well.
You can think about each pound of weight you lose as one more brick removed floorboard. Each brick gone takes a little strain off the ground floor. The same can be said about your joints. Make them work less hard to do their job and they’ll reward you with less pain.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the ancient art of inserting needles into key spots on your body to relieve strain, stress, pain, and other maladies. Practitioners of this art claim a wide range and a huge number of potential benefits.
Things like headaches, immune system deficiencies, blood pressure, and digestive issues are all currently being treated with acupuncture therapy. Recent research suggests that it may be beneficial in treating the pain and swelling caused by osteoarthritis, as well.
If you choose this route, be sure you find a licensed and well-qualified acupuncturist that you trust.
Eating Habits
Inflammation and swelling caused by your arthritis are the real culprits behind your pain. There are a variety of ways to ease that swelling. One method that a growing body of research supports is your diet.
Several foods have been proven to reduce swelling and control inflammation with the power of Omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that these foods help heal your joints and even slow the progress of your arthritis.
Things like fatty fish, fruits, vegetables, and other generally heart-healthy foods don’t just benefit arthritis sufferers. This type of diet can help your overall health and help your body heal from a variety of injuries.
Natural Supplements
It has long been believed that two supplements in tandem can significantly increase joint health. Glucosamine and Chondroitin have shown to be particularly effective in easing that pain, promoting a pain-free range of motion, and even preventing joints from grinding on themselves as the cartilage wears down.
Several studies have backed these findings in recent years making this combination of supplements a very popular one among older people and joint pain sufferers.
Other supplements have shown promising results with arthritis in general and osteoarthritis in particular. One such supplement, avocado soybean unsaponifiables was recently found to significantly slow the progression of related joint inflammation in sufferers.
Natural supplements are being researched more and more as the medical community is seeing the benefits of nature’s medicines. Keep up-to-date on all of the research trends to see how you can help heal yourself from home.
Massage and Spa Treatments
Regular massage therapy can do a lot for the osteoarthritis sufferer. It can help ease the pain and stiffness associated with the disease. It can also help lessen the muscle spasms that sometimes occur around infected joints.
Massage works by stimulated blood flow to certain areas of the body. When blood flows freely to your joints, the cartilage and other tissue around the joint can get the nutrients necessary to stay working properly.
Other spa treatments like hydrotherapy or mud baths have also been reported to relieve much of the pain from arthritis symptoms.
Get Help
If you’ve tried these or other holistic treatments for osteoarthritis pain and are having a hard time keeping up or struggling to get to a place where the pain is bearable, reach out to us. We have experienced medical staff ready with a variety of therapy and treatment options to help you get a hold of your pain.