Tennova Healthcare Presents Best Practices for Relieving Joint Pain

7/30/2018

Health system offers tips for living well with osteoarthritis

If you are one of the millions of American who suffers with the pain of degenerative joint disease, you understand the tremendous effect it can have on your quality of life. Arming yourself with information is the first step to managing arthritis symptoms and living your life to the fullest. That’s why Tennova Healthcare is making a special effort to educate the community on risk factors for osteoarthritis as well as treatment options for relieving joint pain.

“Arthritis is not a single disease, but rather a term used to describe joint pain or joint disease in general,” said Ryan Mitchell, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Tennova Healthcare. “More than 50 million adults in the U.S. suffer from the chronic stiffness, swelling and soreness associated with joint disease. Arthritis is most prevalent among women, and it occurs more frequently as people age.”

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the degeneration of cartilage (the soft tissue padding at the ends of bones). It primarily affects weight-bearing joints, such as hips, knees and the spine. However, osteoarthritis can also occur in other joints, such as those in the shoulder, fingers, and big toe.

“As cartilage breaks down and wears away, bone rubs against bone causing pain, inflammation, stiffness, and swelling in the bones, ligaments, muscles and tendons around a joint,” Dr. Mitchell said. “Over time, the joints lose strength and pain may worsen and become chronic. While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are many treatment options available for managing joint pain and protecting quality of life.”

Risk factors for osteoarthritis include excess weight, family history, age and previous injury. Since osteoarthritis is incurable and degenerative, a patient’s commitment to self-management is critical to minimizing the speed and scope of the condition’s impact.

According to Dr. Mitchell, there are several elements of arthritis self-management—ideally employed in combination for maximum success and relief. They fall into the categories of daily routine, exercise and medical treatments.

Here are best practices in each category:

Daily Routine

• Adjust your position frequently when sitting, working, reading or watching TV. Be sure to stand and walk around a bit, at least every half hour or so.
• Avoid repetitive movements. Overusing a single joint can cause more pain.
• Manage your weight. Excess weight contributes to stress on damaged joints.
• Quit smoking.Smoking has been shown to cause damage to connective tissue.
• Pace yourself. Don’t commit to activities beyond your ability level, putting yourself in a position of healing for several days. Do a little bit—in your comfort zone—every day.

Exercise

• While it may seem counterintuitive when it hurts to move, physical activity is critical to managing the pain and loss of mobility associated with arthritis. Make an effort to exercise every day.
• Choose activities that build the muscles around your joints, but don’t put stress on the joints themselves. Focus on stretching, range-of-motion exercises, and progressive strength training.
• Include low-impact aerobics activities like walking, cycling, and water exercise to help control your weight and improve your mood.
• Avoid activities that involve impact on your joints and/or repetitive motion, such as running or jumping.
• Do some gentle exercises and stretching before bedtime. You’ll feel less stiff in the morning.

Medical Options

• There are many different medications available for arthritis pain relief, but all medications involve some risk of side effects when taken over a long-term. Talk with your doctor about over-the-counter or prescription NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or topical agents to find out what might work best for you.
• A physical therapist is an excellent resource to help you learn to move better and minimize the pain and mobility loss associated with arthritis.
• When more conservative methods have failed, a patient may find the best path to relief and improved quality of life is a surgical one. Options include arthroscopic surgery, minimally invasive joint repair, joint fusions, and joint replacements.

An orthopedic specialist can provide you with the pros and cons of each treatment option, and help you decide which path is best for your condition and desired lifestyle.

“If you have been diagnosed with degenerative joint disease, don’t despair,” Dr. Mitchell said. "Seek the right medical care and self-management tools—and you can continue to live an active, fulfilling life for many years.”

For more information or to find a doctor, call 1-855-TENNOVA (836-6682).

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