Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is one of the types of arthritis that is caused due to degeneration and eventually loss of the cartilage of joints. Cartilage is a tissue that covers the inside of the joints and acts as a cushion between the two bones forming a joint. When the cartilage starts undergoing degeneration, the bone becomes inflamed as its protective covering is lost. This causes pain during weight bearing activities such as standing, walking, etc.
CAUSES OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis occurs when there is damage in and around the joints that the body cannot fully repair. It’s not clear exactly why this happens in some people, although your chances of developing the condition can be influenced by a number of factors, such as your age and weight.
Osteoarthritis usually develops in people over 45 years of age, although younger people can also be affected. It is commonly thought that osteoarthritis is an inevitable part of getting older, but this is not quite true. You may in fact be able to reduce your chances of developing the condition by doing regular, gentle exercises and maintaining a healthy weight.
Genetic predisposition also is one common cause for osteoarthritis. This condition usually affects the weight bearing joints such as the knees and hips; it can also affect other joints such as those of the hands, feet and the spine.
When the osteoarthritis is due to ageing process it is known as primary osteoarthritis; when there are other conditions in the background that have triggered this disorder, it is known as Secondary osteoarthritis. Secondary osteoarthritis can be caused by any of the following:
SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
- Heberden’s nodes
- Pain and stiffness of the affected joint
- Swelling and warmth of the joint
- Creaking of the joint
- Pain is usually worse after repetitive use of the joint
- Stiffness is usually worse after a long period of inactivity
- Pain may occur at rest too (in severe cases)
- Limited mobility of joints
- Inability to squat
- Bony enlargement of small joints of fingers (called Heberden’s nodules)
- Spine osteoarthritis can cause:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Backache
- Tingling and numbness of extremities
- Osteoarthritis Nodes Finger
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where the pathological changes in the joint are almost irreversible. Homeopathic medicine can alleviate the pain significantly but cannot cure the disease completely. Most cases respond well as far as the long-term pain relief is concerned. Homeopathic medicines are definitely suggested for osteoarthritis, especially for early cases where the medicines can slow down the degenerative process and offer considerable pain relief.