What are the treatments for osteoarthritis

To treat osteoarthritis, you need to understand the correct methods. First of all, you should pay attention to protecting your joints in your life, and consult a doctor and follow the doctor's advice to take some physical therapies, such as heat therapy, hydrotherapy or infrared therapy.

1. Promote disease prevention knowledge and protect joints: First of all, patients should be aware of the disease. Physical exercise should be done gradually to prevent excessive exercise and weight-bearing of joints and to avoid mechanical injuries to the joints. In severe cases, immobilization or plaster fixation should be used to prevent deformity. Reduce weight and use hand grips or a cane to reduce the load on affected joints. Those who are related to their occupation should change their jobs. Exercises that work on the relevant muscle groups can maintain and improve joint mobility to enhance joint stability.

2. Physical therapy: heat therapy, hydrotherapy, infrared, ultrashort wave, electrical stimulation, etc. can enhance local blood circulation, relieve muscle tension, and alleviate pain and other symptoms. Traction therapy is more effective for patients with cervical spondylosis radiculopathy. It can relax muscles, relieve pain, and prevent adhesions between tissues adjacent to the nerve roots. However, it must be performed under the guidance of a specialist.

3. Massage and Chinese medicine: Traditional Chinese medicine's massage and acupuncture treatments have obvious effects in alleviating the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Chinese herbal plasters can promote blood circulation and relieve pain, and sometimes have good effects.

4. Drugs to improve symptoms: Analgesics such as paracetamol have analgesic effects, but weak anti-inflammatory effects. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. They can relieve joint pain and improve joint mobility.

5. Glucocorticoids: They should not be used systemically. They can be given by local injection into the joint cavity or at the site of lesions only when other treatments are ineffective, when there are signs of acute inflammation in the joints, or when there is periarticular synovitis, dermatitis, etc. Not suitable for repeated use. The interval between the second injections in the same area should be at least 3 months.