Joint Pains & Osteoarthritis-How To Help Oneself

Osteoarthritis has become a very common problem. Osteoarthritis is joint damage because of wear and tear. It normally sets in old age but symptoms can start as early as 40 or 45 years old.

The major distressing thing is that they have pain. This pain can range from being moderate to very severe.

Doing physiotherapy and regular self exercises is extremely beneficial. Others ways to help oneself are given below.

1. Reduce Weight, Reduce Pressure On Your Joints:Your weight can make a staggering difference to pain levels, and every kilogram really does count. Researchers have found that a 10% reduction in body weight could mean a 50% reduction in pain. The same study found that 38% of participants recorded little to no pain after losing weight. Some small diet and exercise adjustments today could drastically improve your quality of life tomorrow. Get in touch with us to consult a Dietician.
2. Having Omega 3 Fatty Acid Rich Diet: They prevent tissue damage and reduce inflammation.
3. Exercise: Regular activity is an essential part of life with osteoarthritis – but when pain is there doing anything becomes difficult.  So doing easy, comfortable  exercise is something to aim for, whether it’s a social exercise class or a regular walk. To keep bones strong one needs to do weight bearing exercises. Exercise in water is a great way to reduce pressure on joints and minimise injuries due to exercise. So get into swimming pool and get some movements there.  Drink water to stay hydrated, it helps keep your joints moving.
4. Sleep, sleep and sleep: Simple truth is if we sleep less we feel more pain in the morning. So use all tricks and trade to sleep better. 

We wish you health always.

If in case you need a Physiotherapist at home or Dietician Consultation @ home or Blood Investigations @ home, just call +91 8892505557.

Or visist pranahealthcare.co.in

Tai Chi As Good As Physiotherapy For Osteoarthritis Of Knee?

Osteoarthritis of knee is becoming a common problem for the elderly. This is because of "wear & tear" and aging of the knee. Family history of osteoarthritis is a risk factory including being overweight.
Osteoarthritis is the most common knee problem and knee replacement is a solution which is effective but a difficult decision to make.

Strengthening the knee muscles by physiotherapy is as effective as surgery in some people.

Physical therapy or physiotherapy has been proven to be very effective and a new study comparing physical therapy to Tai Chi has shown that Tai Chi is also effective in reducing pain.

Watch the video for Tai Chi for knee strengthening 

Physiotherapy For Knee Strengthening 

Please consult an expert or your doctor or call us to know the best way to get help.

If you have any specific questions, you can write to us or call.

We want you to stay healthy.

#Stayhealthy

Those who wish to read more :

1. Medscape article 

2. Harvard Health

Is The Medication You Are Taking For Knee Pain Safe?

Invariably people suffer from knee pain. The reasons for knee pain can be various, but most often people are prescribed pain relievers. Most pain relievers belong to the class of drugs called Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID). Few do take only paracetamol which is not an NSAID.

                                                Image Courtesy: Flickr -James Buck


Recently we had a second opinion consultation for high blood pressure (BP). She is a 55 year old lady who suffers from severe knee pain on account of osteoarthritis since few years. As the first Orthopedician was not able to relieve her pain, they consulted a second orthopedician, who had put her on Oxaceprol for more than a month. She was also on Piroxicam. She was having giddiness since one month. Six days earlier they had visited their general physician who prescribed her Olemasartan for her high BP. The next day her giddiness symptoms aggravated. At this point, we were consulted.

When we went through the detailed history, we diagnosed that her BP was high because of the two NSAID drugs, that is, Oxaceprol and Piroxicam, for her knee pain. This was preventing the Olemasartan to reduce her BP. We immediately asked her to stop her pain medications (NSAIDS).
She improved significantly within 24 hours. We suspected that her kidneys might have been damaged because of NSAIDS. Blood report indicated elevated creatinine and urea. Luckily, they were just above the upper limit of normal.

Why are reporting this story here?

We have come across many patients who take pain relievers for prolonged duration only to end up having more severe side effects like elevated blood pressure, kidney damage, gastric ulceration.

So if you are suffering from knee pain or if you any one known to you suffers from knee pain and is on chronic NSIADS, get them checked for side effects. People with diabetes need to be 100 times more careful when they take pain relievers.

Be informed, stay healthy!