As an Orthopedic surgeon I am daily confronted with new patients who present with joint pain. For many of them it leads to the initial diagnosis of \u201costeoarthritis\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
So \u201cwhat is Osteoarthritis?\u201d What does it all mean? How does it affect my life? My activity level? My quality of life?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am I destined to be a cripple? What caused it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here is the real truth! I am often criticized for being \u201cblunt\u201d and \u201cto the point\u201d! That is what you get from me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Osteoarthritis is either \u201cprimary\u201d or \u201cpost-traumatic\u201d. We don\u2019t know what causes \u201cprimary\u201d osteoarthritis. It just happens. There are genetic factors that contribute to OA. Dietary factors play a part as does weight (obesity). Activity level also plays a role in progression of disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Post-traumatic OA is triggered by injury rather than other factors. As an example, if you tear your ACL as a youthful athlete, the likelihood that you will subsequently develop OA in the previously injured knee is upwards of 50%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes there is a combination of factors. This would be in an individual who has a strong family history of joints failing prematurely who then is an aggressive athlete who sustains a major knee injury playing soccer or football. The knee is repaired following the injury but then the joint fails much faster than anticipated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So you have \u201cmild OA\u201d regardless of the cause. What can you do about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal in managing OA is to do those things which will support the affected joint, reduce the symptoms of pain and swelling, if possible slow progression of the disease or in some cases perhaps reverse the disease process. Of course when making decisions about treatment options one must consider risks, benefits, cost and impact of quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here are your options in managing early or mild Osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nutritional factors are my starting point. Natural joint supplements are very effective in supporting joint resilience, reducing pain and swelling and in some cases, increasing the thickness or health of the joint cartilage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n