OsteoArthritis relief - Healing stiff and painful joints with Homeopathy

Osteoarthritis is an aging disease where bones in the joints show signs of aging, inflammation and deformity, with the symptoms of pain, swelling and reduced mobility. Homoeopathic 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. Homoeopathic medicines are definitely suggested for osteoarthritis, especially for early cases where the medicines can slow down the degenerative process and offer considerable pain relief.

What is 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 insideof 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. OA can occur together with other types of arthritis, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis.

OA tends to affect commonly used joints such as the hands and spine, and the weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees. Symptoms include:

•  Joint pain and stiffness

•  Knobby swelling at the joint

•  Cracking or grinding noise with joint movement

•  Decreased function of the joint

Who gets osteoarthritis?

OA affects people of all races and both sexes. Most often, it occurs in patients age 40 and above. However, it can occur sooner if you have other risk factors (things that raise the risk of getting OA). Risk factors include:

•  Older age

•  Having family members with OA

•  Obesity

•  Previous traumatic Joint injury or repetitive use (overuse) of joints

•  Joint deformity such as unequal leg length, bowlegs or knocked knees

Living with Osteoarthritis

There is no cure for OA, but you can manage how it affects your lifestyle. Some tips include:

•  Properly position and support your neck and back while sitting or sleeping.

•  Adjust furniture, such as raising a chair or toilet seat.

•  Avoid repeated motions of the joint, especially frequent bending.

•  Lose weight if you are overweight or obese, which can reduce pain and slow progression of OA.

•  Exercise each day.

•  Use adaptive devices that will help you do daily activities.

•  You might want to work with a physical therapist or occupational therapist to learn the best exercises and to choose arthritis assistive devices

Homeopathic treatment:

Homeopathic medicines if chosen well can reduce pain and improve mobility.

Some of the commonly used homeopathic medicines for Osteoarthritis are Rhus toxicidendron, Bryonia alba, Arnica Montana, Calcaria fluoride, Calcaria carbonate, Pulsatilla nigra, Radium bromide, Kali carbonicum, etc. First three medicines may be used as over-the-counter medicines for self help, not others.