Arthritis can come in many forms such as; rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritic, osteoarthritis and many other types. The word arthritis can be defined as the inflammation or swelling of one or more joints. There are more than 100 conditions that affect the joints and other connective tissues. The symptoms you may be experiencing typically depends on the type of arthritis you may be suffering from.
Osteoarthritis is one of the more common types of arthritis and can cause a lot of swelling and tenderness in the entire joint that can lead to the breakdown of cartilage and it can also cause your bone to wear away. The pain can come from the rubbing of bone on bone once that cartilage lining (cushioning) breaks down between the joint and the bone.
There are a lot of risk factors as well when it comes to osteoarthritis that you can look out for such as; women tend to be affected more than men, the risk gradually increases with age, genetics can contribute to the development, extra weight as well as previous joint injury or people who work at occupations that repeatedly stress that particular joint area.
If you’re suffering from osteoarthritis, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. This specific type of arthritis affects nearly 5 million Canadians. It’s definitely much more common than other types; with rheumatoid arthritis affecting only about 300,000 Canadians. It can typically affect not just joints in the knees – but can also attack the joints in the hands, feet, hips and spine.
There are lots of things that can be done to both relieve the pain as well as live your daily life while living with arthritis such as:
Exercise – different activities can help in different ways when it comes to osteoarthritis. Things such as walking, biking, yoga, and different stretching exercises are great. One thing to keep in mind is that it’s very easy to overdo it and end up in more pain then when you started, so it’s important to keep your exercise to a manageable amount.
Using heat – (not ice) to manage the pain
Braces, custom made orthotics or over the counter options – this is often the most common and efficient method when it comes to treating arthritis and the symptoms that accompany it. Knee or ankle bracing can help to assist support which in turn will reduce the strain you’re experiencing on your joints. Orthotics can also be recommended In some cases as they can also support your feet and alleviate some stress from the other joints affected by the arthritis pain.
If you’re experiencing osteoarthritis and might feel overwhelmed with where you should start, head to our locations page to find a BioPed clinic near you. Our clinicians can answer any additional questions you may have and see what options may be best for you and your specific situation.
