Knees and Arthritis

"I couldn't even sleep at night because of the pain in my knees," said Sally, sharing about her osteoarthritis of the knees at AAOS.org. As a hostess in a restaurant and an active person who loved biking, tennis, walking, gardening and traveling, Sally found that her osteoarthritis had a negative impact on her life.

Sally's condition affected both knees, making it impossible for her to walk, especially up and down the stairs. The constant pain left her hunched over and limping. No longer able to exercise, she gained weight and her overall health began to deteriorate.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease often found in the hands, knees, hips, feet and spine, according to the AAOS article. It is one of the most common forms of arthritis and occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones breaks down, resulting in a bone-on-bone contact and significant pain, loss of movement and deformity. Besides physical limitations, OA can also cause financial strain to the sufferer as treatments can be expensive, and for some patients with this condition, they may no longer be able to work.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of OA according to an article at Pain-Research.org:

• Joint pain and swelling
• Early morning stiffness
• Warmth around a joint
• Redness of the skin around a joint
• Reduced ability to move the joint
• Unexplained weight loss, fever, or weakness that occurs with joint pain

Diagnosis

Diagnosing arthritis according to the Pain Research article includes:

A physical examination may show fluid being collected around the joint known as effusion, and the affected joints may indicate limited range of motion, being painful or difficult to move in some directions. In certain forms of arthritis, for example rheumatoid arthritis, the joints may become deformed if the disease continues for too long without treatment.

Diagnostic tests vary depending on the suspected cause, and may include blood or urine tests, as well as joint X-rays. In septic arthritis or inflammation of a joint due to a bacterial or fungal infection, fluid may be removed from the joint with a needle and examined for the presence of infection.

Medication and Treatment

Many over-the-counter medications include common anti-inflammatory drugs like:

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Naproxen

Such drugs may be used to effectively control pain and inflammation in arthritis, as described in another article at Pain-Research.org. However, these drugs need to be used with care as they have possible side effects of causing damage to the stomach lining and the kidneys.

Glucosamine and chondroitin which are known to provide naturally-occurring nutrient for forming the building blocks of cartilage may be recommended. These are available at health food stores or supermarkets without a prescription. Early studies indicate that these compounds are quite safe and may improve symptoms relating to arthritis.

Injections of liquid cortisone directly into the joint may temporarily help to relieve pain and swelling. However, it should be noted that repeated frequent injections into the same joint can damage the joint and have undesirable side effects.

If nonsurgical treatment fails to give relief, a surgery for arthritis by an orthopedist may be considered. This is the advice given in an article on arthritis treatments at Pain-Research.org. The orthopedist and patient will choose the type of surgery by taking into account the type of arthritis, its severity, and the patient's physical condition.

Surgical procedures include:

• Removal of the diseased or damaged joint lining
• Realignment of the joints
• Total joint replacement
• Fusion of the bone ends of a joint to prevent joint motion and relieve joint pain

For professional help with osteoarthritis and joint degeneration, please consult a doctor or an orthopedic specialist.

What Causes Joint to Wear Out?

by Singapore Health

Knee Osteoarthritis and Physiotherapy Management

by Singapore Health

Muscle Aches and Pain

“So I am only 24 and almost a month ago my upper back became very sore, mostly on the right side,” wrote a member of a community forum at AnxietyZone.com. “It felt like sore muscle knots and I figured it was because of stress and sitting hunched at the computer too much.”

Muscle aches, pain, and soreness can be due to many reasons. According to an article at MedlinePlus, a muscle pain can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia or the soft tissues that connect muscles, bones, and organs. Often, it relates to tension, overuse, or muscle injury from exercise or physically-demanding work, where the pain tends to involve specific muscles and starts during or just after an activity. In such situations, usually it is obvious which activity is causing the pain.

Many people tend to confuse soreness with pain, which are actually very different, according to Jennipher Walters, a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor. In an article at SparkPeople.com, Walters wrote that soreness is more of a dull, slightly uncomfortable ache in the muscle, whereas pain is a very uncomfortable or sometimes sharp sensation in the bones, joints, or sometimes muscles. While some muscle soreness is normal, pain is not. If pain is felt at any point during a workout, it is important to stop whatever activity a person is doing. Seeing a healthcare professional immediately is advised if there is one or more of the following:

• sudden pain
• severe pain
• swelling
• extreme tenderness
• weakness in a limb
• inability to place weight on a leg or foot
• inability to move a joint through its full range of motion
• visible dislocation or broken bone
• numbness or tingling experienced

Muscle Ache Relief

When looking for muscle ache relief, one of the first things a person should do is to isolate and identify the source or cause of the pain. This is the advice given in an article at PainRelief.FactExpert.com. It is absolutely important to know if a pain is resulting from simple strain and overuse or it is a serious problem that requires a doctor’s treatment. If there is a torn muscle, dislocation of a disc or joint or some other similar problem, pain relief treatments should not be used to alleviate the pain as it will only temporarily mask the real problem.

A few things can be done to relief muscle pain or ache once it has been determined as not a medical condition that needs to be treated right away. In the case of muscle pain from overuse or injury, rest for that part of the body is advised, as stated in the MedlinePlus article. Apply ice to reduce pain and inflammation for the first 24 to 72 hours of an injury. After that, use heat which should feel more soothing.

Massage usually helps with muscle aches that are due to overuse or long term body-wide pain. Gentle stretching exercises after a long rest period are also helpful. Regular exercise can help restore proper muscle tone. Walking, cycling, and swimming are good aerobic activities to try as well.

When doing a workout, always begin slowly and increase gradually. Avoid high-impact aerobic activities and weight lifting when injured or while in pain. Get plenty of sleep and try to reduce stress. If these measures do not help, seek professional help from a doctor who may prescribe medication or physical therapy or refer you to a specialized pain clinic.

In cases where muscle aches are due to specific disease, patients should follow the instructions of the doctor or specialist on treatment of the primary illness.

How to Get Rid of Sore Muscles

by eHow