Since being cold and cold does not cause osteoarthritis, what are the factors that cause the disturbing osteoarthritis?
After reading the last issue of Late Night Medicine, you may ask: Since not wearing fall pants does not lead to osteoarthritis, is osteoarthritis “predestined”? Can I “do my part”?
What exactly causes osteoarthritis? The answer is: overuse of the joints causes osteoarthritis. This means that, unlike the brain, the principle of “use in, use out” does not apply to the joints.
On the other hand, since overuse is the cause, you can do something about it.
Risk factors for osteoarthritis that can’t be changed that can’t be changed are
Age: Arthritis is caused by mechanical wear and tear on the joint surfaces, and the longer the joints are used, the higher the incidence. This is why most people with osteoarthritis are older.
Women: Unfortunately, the incidence of arthritis is much higher in women than in men. The reasons for this are not yet well understood.
Genetic: Some patients have a family history of the disease, but it is not absolutely inherited. There are cases where the sister suffers from arthritis and the sister is as fit as a fiddle.
You may have a personal interest in the above factors: hobbling and crutches are simply the standard image of an older woman.
Some of the factors that can be changed through lifestyle modification are
Weight: More weight puts more pressure on the knee joint. The rounder the body, the more the cartilage in the knee wears out and the higher the incidence of degenerative knee osteoarthritis.
Inappropriate sports: Football players and sprinters, for example, overload their knees far more often and for longer than the average person, and the incidence of osteoarthritis in these athletes is relatively high.
Occupation: Occupations that involve prolonged standing, such as teachers, surgeons, porters, and construction workers. These occupations cause long-term strain on the knee and have a relatively high incidence of arthritis.
Others: Diabetes, hypothyroidism, gout, etc., all increase the incidence of arthritis to some extent.
Do you belong to a group of people who are prone to the above factors? What changes are you likely to make?
What can you do if you already have osteoarthritis?
What should I do if I already have arthritis?
If you are overweight, the first thing you should do is reduce your weight to reduce the pressure on your knee joint.
Staying in bed can worsen arthritis and worsen symptoms.
The right medications (oral or local injections), proper rest, warmth, hot or cold compresses (yes, there are many patients who do better with cold compresses), and moderate exercise (swimming, Tai Chi, gateball, etc.) can help relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Can osteoarthritis be cured?
Arthritis arises from mechanical wear and tear of the cartilage in the joint head. This wear and tear, which only gets worse over time, is irreversible.
Medications can relieve the pain of arthritis. Proper care can slow the progression of arthritis, but it cannot be cured.
Typically, women develop severe osteoarthritis around age 60. Knee pain, stiffness, a wobbly gait, and even sleep can be disrupted.
Patients with severe degenerative osteoarthritis can undergo joint replacement surgery.