Osteoarthritis is a medical condition which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. When the cartilage becomes damaged either through injury or natural wear and tear, the joints lose their natural cushion and can begin to rub against each other. This friction can become extremely painful and result in further orthopedic problems. The body is usually able to repair the cartilage naturally, but when it is not able to do so then medical treatment is required Treatment for osteoarthritis is designed to help gradually restore a better range of motion to the joints, alleviate the symptoms and manage pain.
The wearing down of cartilage and subsequent stiffness means that the joint is not able move as freely as it once could. Osteoarthritis can appear in any joint in the body, but it most commonly affects the knee, the spine, the hands and the hip. There is no cure for osteoarthritis and the condition is degenerative, meaning without effective treatment it will only get worse. There is no exact cause behind osteoarthritis but there are a number of risk factors which make it more likely that someone will suffer from the condition.
Osteoarthritis almost always appears in those over the age of 50, but some people may start experiencing symptoms as young as 45. Lifestyle factors may influence your chances of getting osteoarthritis, with obesity and general poor health seens as risk factors. There is also evidence to suggest that a family history of osteoarthritis may be a risk factor.
What treatments are there for osteoarthritis?
A number of medications can be used to help ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but they wonâ??t be able to cure it. Physical therapy is usually used as a primary treatment for osteoarthritis. Patients are expected to undergo a course of physiotherapy over a number of weeks, and will work with a specialist on a number of exercises which aim to strengthen the joint and improve the range of motion. Again, while piotherapy can go a long way in providing relief for the symptoms of osteoarthritis, it is only a temporary solution. The most permanent solution for osteoarthritis is surgery.
If the condition is affecting the hip or the knee then a full joint replacement may be needed, which replaces the damaged joint with an artificial one. If full joint replacement is not suitable then an osteotomy might be performed, a surgical procedure which removes a section of bone to reduce the pressure on the joint. Osteotomies are usually performed on younger patients, who may still need a full joint replacement in the future. Knee Replacement Abroad Hip Replacement Abroad Osteotomy Abroad,
There are many factors that can affect the costs
Osteoarthritis treatment aims to alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis, a condition that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in joints in the body. The condition is caused by a breakdown of cartilage, which is a buffer between the joints and the bone and protects the joints. Cartilage wears down overtime and the body is usually able to repair the damage and continue protecting the joints, however, when it does not repair the cartilage, friction between the bone and joint occurs. The joint may deteriorate, causing pain and stiffness.
Osteoarthritis is not a curable condition, however treatment can help to relieve and manage symptoms. Many patients with the condition may experience limited motion with the affected joints, due to the stiffness caused by the breakdown of the cartilage. While the condition can affect any joint in the body, it most commonly occurs in the knees, hips, hands, and spine. It is a degenerative condition, meaning it will worsen as time goes on, which is why it is important to seek treatment once symptoms start to show, in order to try and slow down the process and relieve symptoms. The condition is more likely to occur in older age, with most patients experiencing symptoms from the age of 45 or older, and it is more likely to affect women more than men.
There are a number of factors which can increase the chances of osteoarthritis occurring and these include family history, obesity, and if the patient already has arthritis. Treatment options include medication for managing pain and inflammation, lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and in some cases surgery may be an option. Surgical treatments include joint replacement and osteotomy.
Recommended for Osteoarthritis Time requirements Number of days in hospital 3 - 5 days . If patients are undergoing surgery, a hospital stay is usually required. Osteoarthritis mainly affects the hands, hips, and knees.
Patient will have a consultation with a rheumatologist or an orthopedic specialist, to discuss the treatment plan for managing their condition. Patients should raise any questions or concerns that they may have and explain to the doctor the symptoms they have and for how long they have been experiencing pain, stiffness or swelling.
The doctor will take a full medical history of the patient and may run some tests such as blood tests, order an X-ray or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in order to help with making a treatment plan, if such tests have not already been performed. If undergoing surgery, the patient will usually be advised to refrain from eating and drinking in the hours preceding surgery, in order to prepare for the general anesthetic.
Patients with complex conditions may benefit from seeking a second opinion before beginning a treatment plan. A second opinion means that another doctor, usually an expert with a lot of experience, will review the patient's medical history, symptoms, scans, testsults, and other important information, in order to provide a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Osteoarthritis can be managed with medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help treat the inflammation and pain in the joints. Some NSAIDs that are used are often non-prescription medication such as ibuprofen which the doctor may recommend, while others may be prescription medication that may have side effects. Physical therapy may be recommended to the patient, and this will need to be attended on a regular basis in order to experience consistent relief. The patient will perform certain exercises and movements, in order to improve the strength of their muscles and to help with regaining motion in their joints. Some patients may be given injections such as cortisone or lubrication injections to relieve pain in the joints.
This involves injecting medication into the joint using a needle. Depending on the area of the affected joint and severity of the condition, surgery may be an option to help treat osteoarthritis. Patients who have osteoarthritis in their knees or hips, may be eligible to have knee or hip replacement surgery. This type of surgery involves making an incision in the knee or hip, removing the old and damaged joint, and replacing it with a new joint made of plastic or metal. Once the new joint is in pace, the incision site is then closed. For patients who are relatively young, a knee replacement is not always an option as the replaced joint can wear down a lot quicker in patients under the age of 55, in comparison to older patients. For these patients, an osteotomy may be performed.
This is a surgical procedure performed to remove or add part of a bone in the leg to alleviate pressure put on the knee. This is generally seen as a temporary solution as these patients will usually require knee replacement surgery in the years preceding this procedure. Anesthesia General anesthetic (if undergoing surgery). Procedure duration The Osteoarthritis Treatment takes 1 to 3 hours. The procedure duration depends on the type of surgery being performed. Treatment includes medication, physical therapy, and in some cases surgery.,
Post procedure care Should the patient experience any side effects from taking any medication recommended to them or prescribed by the doctor, they should let the doctor know as the medication may need to be changed.,
Following are the best 10 hospitals for Osteoarthritis Treatment in the world:
| # | Hospital | Country | City | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artemis Hospital | India | Gurgaon | --- | |
| 2 | Sikarin Hospital | Thailand | Bangkok | --- | |
| 3 | Medipol Mega University Hospital | Turkey | Istanbul | --- | |
| 4 | Chelsea and Westminster Hospital | United Kingdom | London | --- | |
| 5 | Hospital Sirio Libanes | Brazil | Sao Paulo | --- | |
| 6 | Centro Médico Teknon - Grupo Quironsalud | Spain | Barcelona | --- | |
| 7 | Asian Heart Institute | India | Mumbai | --- | |
| 8 | Revital Aspach | Austria | Aspach | --- | |
| 9 | Apollo Spectra Hospital MRC Nagar | India | Chennai | --- | |
| 10 | NMC Specialty Hospital Dubai | United Arab Emirates | Dubai | --- |
Following are the best doctors for Osteoarthritis Treatment in the world:
| # | DOCTOR | SPECIALITY | HOSPITAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Sumeet Aggarwal | Rheumatologist | Artemis Hospital | |
| 2 | Dr. Amit Bhargava | Orthopedecian | Fortis Hospital, Noida | |
| 3 | Dr. Brajesh Koushle | Orthopedecian | Fortis Hospital, Noida | |
| 4 | Dr. Dhananjay Gupta | Orthopedecian & Joint Replacement Surgeon | Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dha... | |
| 5 | Dr. Kamal Bachani | Orthopedecian & Joint Replacement Surgeon | Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dha... | |
| 6 | Dr. K. K. Mishra | Orthopedecian & Joint Replacement Surgeon | Primus Super Specialty Ho... | |
| 7 | Dr. B. Mohapatra | Orthopaedic - Spine Surgeon | Indian Spinal Injuries Ce... | |
| 8 | Dr. Gautam Zaveri | Orthopedecian & Joint Replacement Surgeon | Fortis Hospital Mulund |
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Mozocare is a medical access platform for hospitals and clinics to assist patients access best medical care at affordable prices. Mozocare Insights provides Health News, Latest treatment innovation, Hospital ranking , Healthcare Industry Information and Knowledge sharing .
The information on this page was reviewed and approved by Mozocare team. This page was updated on 25 Jul, 2020.