HealthWise

One of the most common forms of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is wear and tear of the joints. Wear and tear of our joints may occur due to ageing, injury, prolonged poor posture, overuse of joints, or excess weight. Studies have also shown that some people are prone to develop osteoarthritis, and this tendency may be genetic. Osteoarthritis can be painful and depressing. There is no cure, but there are always ways of managing the condition and making life easier.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is degeneration of the articular cartilage that covers the joints. This results in areas of the joint where bone rubs against bone. Bone spurs may form around the joint. The hallmarks of osteoarthritis are joint stiffness, swelling and pain. This often improves with light activity, but is usually worse again after gripping or pinching, or after a period of rest.

In a normal joint, healthy cartilage lubricated by synovial fluid cushions the bones and allows them to move easily.

Who gets Osteoarthritis?

Many people think osteoarthritis comes from a long history of hard work, but hard labour does not seem to be related.

Osteoarthritis can be due to trauma such as an old fracture, but it is usually just due to the effects of ageing coupled with some hereditary contribution.

Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to begin to break down, first making it thinner and then creating cracks in its surface

What does Osteoarthritis feel like?

Osteoarthritis develops slowly over several years. The symptoms of osteoarthritis are mainly pain, swelling, and stiffening of the joints. The pain of osteoarthritis is usually worse after activity. An example is while walking the joints are OK, then pain occurs after about a minute of sitting. The pain does not come from the covering of the joint, the articular cartilage, as this tissue does not have a nerve supply. The pain may come from inflammation of the lining of the joint, small fractures in the bone under the cartilage, pressure from blood flow in the area, or pressure from nerve endings.

Gaps in the cartilage can expand until they reach the bone itself, causing areas in the joint where bone can rub against bone.

What can I do to start feeling better?

• Limit Pain
• Increase the Mobility
• Increase Strength
• Repair and Rebuild Damage

Initially the aim is to reduce pain and discomfort. Your Healthwise practitioner has several tools to help control the acute symptoms caused by osteoarthritis. Heat treatment from an ultrasound or heat pack is helpful, as heat will help stimulate blood flow. Herbal medicine can help with pain relief. Joint mobilisation and manipulation may be used as they also promote fluid motion, hence lubricating and providing nutrition to the joints.

By improving joint mobility your Healthwise practitioner can help ease the symptoms, as well as keeping the joint surfaces healthy. An improved range of motion will also help you prepare for increased activity. Therapy such as mobilisation, manipulation, stretching and massage all help increase mobility. You can also try hydrotherapy or swimming.

Synovial fluid leaks into cracks which can form in the bone's surface. This causes further damage.

Chiropractors and Osteopaths deal with osteoarthritis by ensuring that the involved joints have as close to normal movement as is possible. This involves soft tissue work to the muscles in the area and adjustment of the joint. The practitioner will also ensure that the spinal nerve supply to the surrounding tissues is also functioning properly. The effect of the nerve supply is significant, as a changed nerve supply to the area will change the way a joint and its muscles function, putting more stress on the area. This predisposes to inflammation, the primary cause of pain in osteoarthritis.

Naturopathic treatment can assist with the repair and rebuilding of cartilage and the relief of pain. There are a number of safe and natural alternatives to pharmaceutical medicines available, such as Chondroitin and Glucosamine which enhance the repair of the collagen matrix and regeneration of the connective tissue cells.

What is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is a natural substance found largely in cartilage, which provides structure to the bones and cartilage. Although the body is able to make glucosamine, with ageing, this ability declines. The result being that production cannot keep pace with degradation - this is considered the major factor in the onset of osteoarthritis. Supplementary Glucosamine is an important alternative for those unable to produce adequate glucosamine, as it is able to rebuild and repair damaged cartilage, thus slowing the progression of osteoarthritis, and providing symptomatic relief.

What is Chondroitin?

Chondroitin acts like a "liquid magnet", helping to attract fluid into the cartilage. This is important for two reasons:

1. The fluid acts as a spongy shock absorber, and also sweeps nutrients into the cartilage.
2. Joint cartilage has no blood supply, which means its nourishment and lubrication comes from the fluid that enters the cartilage as pressure is applied to the joint.

Other Nutrients

Nutrients important for bone and joint health are Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Selenium, Magnesium together with Vitamin C, E and B complex.

Herbal Remedies

Herbal remedies are another effective option for pain relief and can be combined safely with Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Boswellia, Turmeric, Celery Seed and Devil's Claw are well known for their pain relieving abilities.