Osteoarthritis is also referred to as a degenerative joint disease because the cartilage within the joints of people with this disorder is degenerating, or breaking down. As a result, there is no cushion between the bones. Without any cartilage, the bones rub on each other, develop growths, and become hard and thick. The disorder is painful, but there are products available that will decrease the pain and give people more flexible joints.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis and one of the main causes of disability among the elderly population, according to David Felson, M.D., Chief of the Clinical Epidemiology Unit at Boston University in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." It affects the joints, especially the knees, hip, spine and hands. In this disease, the cartilage within the joints breaks down, which means the bones no longer have a buffer. Thus, the bones become thick and hard, and people often feel a deep, aching pain and sharper pain when the joint is used.
Pain Relievers
Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs not only fight fever and inflammation, but they are also pain relievers, as explained in "Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics" by Anne Burke, M.B., Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Both of these pain relievers interfere with cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2, proteins that protect the stomach lining and increase the production of substances that take part in inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also called NSAIDs for short, and they include ibuprofen, naproxen and indomethacin.
Mechanical Support
In "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," Dr. Felson explains that the treatment of osteoarthritis involves changing the weight placed on the affected joint. Besides improving the strength of the muscles around the joint, avoiding any activity that puts too much weight on the joint and losing weight, people can use a splint, brace, crutch, cane or walker. In addition, a physical therapist can show someone with this disease what is the best height for the cane that they should use to best relieve the stress on the arthritic joint.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Glucosamine is a substance that is normally made by the cartilage cells of the body, while chondroitin is also a normal part of cartilage. The pharmaceutical companies take glucosamine from the shells of fish and chondroitin from cows. Research studies show that taking either glucosamine alone or glucosamine with chondroitin decreases the progression and pain of osteoarthritis, per Kevin Barrows, M.D. of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California in "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment."
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2011"; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Maxine Papadakis, M.D.; 2011
- "Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics"; Laurence Brunton, Ph.D.; 2006
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony Fauci, M.D., Dennis Kasper, M.D., Dan Longo, M.D. et al.; 2008
