The main aim of treatment for a degenerated joint is to alleviate its symptoms and provide protection. In this article, we have discussed the medicinal as well as natural cure for osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It results from the degeneration of cartilage tissues that are present in the body joints. The soft cartilage tissues act as cushions, and prevent the bone ends, at the joints, from rubbing against each other. As the cartilage deteriorates, the ends of the bones get rubbed repeatedly, and suffer damage. In this condition, the affected joint becomes stiff and painful. The areas that are most commonly affected by osteoarthritis are knee joints, hip joints, wrist joints, thumb joints, neck, and lower back spine.

Causes
The exact cause behind osteoarthritis is not clearly known. However, there are a number of possible factors, which have been found to have contributed towards this problem. One of the key cause is believed to be the overall aging process, as it is mostly found in people who are above the age of 40 years. Injury to the joint, weakness in muscles, and excessive body weight may also lead to this kind of degeneration. In some cases, it has been found to be hereditary as well.

Symptoms
Initially, the symptoms are mild, and show up occasionally. With the passage of time, as the cartilage deteriorates, the symptoms get aggravated. The common symptoms are as follows:

• An acute pain in the joint, usually experienced during or after repeated use of the joint
• Inflamed joint, which is warm and tender to touch
• Stiffness in the joint that tends to restrict movements
• A burning sensation in the soft tissues of muscles and tendons, that surround the joint area
• Loss of strength in the affected joint
• While moving the joint, a cracking or grating sensation can be felt in the area

Treatment

• When you visit the doctor, x-rays and MRI scans are conducted to diagnose the problem. The treatment is then based upon the severity of damage.
• Firstly, the pain needs to be alleviated. Doctors prescribe one or more oral, anti-inflammatory medicines for this purpose. Capsaicin cream is to be applied topically on affected joint for pain relief. This can bring down mild to moderate pain.
• However, for severe joint pain, doctors may administer cortisone injections. They desensitize the affected joint, and then insert the needle into it to inject the medicine directly at the painful site. This will decrease the excruciating pain almost instantly.
• The effects of the oral medicines, cream, and cortisone shot are temporary, and they do not address the root cause of the problem. Moreover, these medicines cannot be used for a long time, as they have adverse side effects.
• As the pain increases with movement, doctors may advise you to restrict joint mobility with the help of splints, braces, shoe inserts, etc. Such medical devices provide adequate support to the joints, and keep them in an immobile state. As the pressure is eased off from the joint, you can get relief from the persistent pain.
• Doctors often recommend physiotherapy. As the pain subsides, physiotherapists suggest some gentle, stretching exercises for the affected joint. Such exercises can strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint, add stability to the joint, and improve its flexibility. You can also consult an occupational therapist who can give you suggestions to modify your joint movements during activities, in order to minimize the pressure on the affected joints.
• If the joint is badly damaged, the non-surgical methods of treatment do not yield much results. In that case, it has to be repaired with the help of surgery. There are different surgical procedures that are used for curing osteoarthritis. One is joint replacement surgery or arthroplasty, wherein the damaged part of the joint is replaced with devices made of either plastic or metal. In another procedure called osteotomy, the bones are realigned so that the joint deformity can be corrected. In case of arthrodesis, the bones are fused together to increase the stability of the joint.

Natural Cures
The joint pain and inflammation caused due to osteoarthritis can be treated naturally too. A few simple remedies that you can try out at home are as follows:

Heat and Cold Therapy: Both, heat and cold, are equally effective for pain management. Ice application eases off the tension from the muscles, and relieves the pain. On the other hand, heat application provides a soothing relief from the pain by reducing the stiffness of the joint. For best results, you must apply heat and cold to the joint alternately, for 15 minutes. It can be repeated several times throughout the day.

Oil Massage: If you are extremely bothered by the arthritic pain, pour a few drops of garlic oil on the painful joint, and massage it in gentle, circular motions. This will give you quick relief from the pain. Similarly, you can mix equal quantities of mustard oil and onion juice, and massage the area with this mixture.

Dietary Supplements: Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are two naturally occurring nutritional supplements, which have been proved to be highly beneficial for osteoarthritis. If you take these two supplements together for 6-8 weeks, you can get significant relief from both, pain and inflammation.

Fish Oil: This is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are highly effective for reducing inflammation. It also has a lubricating effect on the stiff joints, and thus, improves their mobility. However, you have to be patient while using fish oil supplements, as they don't show any instant results. You have to take them for 8-12 weeks continuously.

Pineapple Juice: It has an enzyme component named bromelain which has the natural ability to reduce swelling. Drink fresh pineapple juice everyday to obtain best results. You can also opt for fasting on pineapple juice for one single day. This should be repeated after a gap of every 2 months.

The damage caused by osteoarthritis is irreversible. Therefore, the key to cure is an early treatment. If you start it at the initial stage, no major harm can be caused to the joint. Moreover, the damaging effects can be successfully controlled with conservative methods of treatment only.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is solely for informative purpose and not intended to replace the advice of medical experts.