Every slightest movement hurts. Even getting up becomes a torment. Osteoarthritis not infrequently affects the entire daily routine of those affected. If the disease initially starts with pain on movement, this can lead to fatigue pain or pain on exertion – in severe cases to chronic pain even at rest. Five million people suffer from pain in the joint area. The cause is often osteoarthritis, a wear-related joint disease that can occur mainly in advanced age – but in some cases already in 40-year-olds. The initiative Strong against pain clarifies what to do at the first signs of joint pain.
See a doctor early on
If you feel the first signs of pain in your joints, you should not hesitate to see a doctor. This is because early diagnosis increases the chances of getting the symptoms under control – any subsequent damage can be reduced. Moreover, the earlier therapy begins, the lower the risk that the pain will remain for the rest of your life. Symptoms of osteoarthritis include joint pain, pain on start-up that disappears after a few movements, pain on fatigue after prolonged exertion, cracking or grinding in the joint, a feeling of heat on exertion, a feeling of swelling without any really visible swelling, and decreasing joint mobility. Osteoarthritis can occur anywhere in the body where joint cartilage is present. The spine, knee and hand are most commonly affected followed by the hip, foot and toe joints, shoulder and elbow.
Don’t be put off
Request individualized therapy from your treating physician. Don’t be fobbed off with phrases like “everyone has this pain as they get older” or “you just have to put up with it.” Today, there is a wide range of therapy options, both physical and drug treatments, that can help pain patients in a meaningful way. No one has to suffer from their pain. Seek out a specialist who takes your complaints seriously.
Make sure you get enough exercise
Once osteoarthritis is diagnosed, don’t resign yourself to your condition or try to avoid pain by moving as little as possible and adopting a gentle posture. Stay mobile. Even if cartilage damage to the joints cannot be reversed, the progression of osteoarthritis can at least be slowed or even stopped. With regular and targeted exercise, every patient can do something about the pain themselves. This is because movement produces synovial fluid in the joint, some of which reaches the articular cartilage. The synovial fluid provides nutrients to the articular cartilage and acts in the joint to reduce friction and as a fluid shock absorber. A good muscle build-up also protects the joints from overload and incorrect stress and relieves the strain on them. Cycling, swimming, walking or hiking are particularly suitable sports for osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joints, as they keep the joints in motion but do not overload them.
Therapy measures for pain
Physical therapy measures such as cold and heat applications can be used to achieve very good results in relieving pain. Keep in mind, however, that all applications should only be performed in consultation with the attending physician.
- For acute pain caused by inflammation, cold is more likely to help. For this, you can, for example, fill ice cubes in a plastic bag, and treat the painful area with it several times for 30 seconds.
- Heat helps more with persistent, chronic pain, because it has a decramping and muscle-relaxing effect. In joint diseases, heat also increases the metabolic processes in the tissue. The mobility of the joints is increased.
- However, medication is also part of a sensible pain therapy, because no one has to endure his pain.
- In addition, freedom from pain is important for meaningful exercise therapy and natural exercise. Researchers have developed a new generation of painkillers, called selective COX-2 inhibitors, which target pain and are much more tolerable for the stomach than conventional drugs.
Simple tips for everyday life
Even simple measures help sufferers to curb the discomfort: Reduce, if necessary, your body weight, because every kilo too much stresses the hip and knee joints. Do not carry heavy things. Avoid standing and sitting for long periods.Wear flat heels and prefer soft shock absorbing soles.
