Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis also known as degenerative arthritis, a condition in which inflammation results in pain of the joints, it is caused by wearing of the cartilage that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints and also decreases the  synovial fluid that lubricates those joints.

It causes pain, swelling and reduced motion in your joints. It may occur in any joint, but usually it affects joints in the hands, knees, hips or spine.

Symptoms

Common symptoms are:

• Warmth
• Swelling,
• Stiffness of the joints
• Pain in the affected joints
• Creaking of the affected joints

Osteoarthritis does not affect any other organs of the body.
Osteoarthritis of the spine causes pain in the neck or low back

Osteoarthritis of the knees is often associated with obesity or a history of repeated injury and/or joint surgery

Osteoarthritis causes the formation of hard bony enlargements of the small joints of the fingers which is called a Heberden’s node. Another common bony knob occurs at the middle joint of the fingers in many patients with osteoarthritis and is called a Bouchard’s node. Osteoarthritis of the fingers and the toes may have come from the genes and affects women more than men.

Causes

Breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints

Osteoarthritis commonly affects the hands, feet, spine, and weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. Most cases of osteoarthritis have no known cause and referred to as primary osteoarthritis. When the cause of the osteoarthritis is known, the condition is referred to as secondary osteoarthritis.

Type of causes:

• Primary – mostly related to aging.
• Secondary – caused by other factors or diseases

Hormone disturbances like diabetes and growth hormone disorder are also associated with early cartilage wear and secondary osteoarthritis.

Treatment

Onions:
Chopped and wrap in a clean cloth and wrap  in the affected area it helps in relieving pain

Turmeric Powder:
Put one-half teaspoon of turmeric powder with warm water twice a day.

Apple cider vinegar:
Take apple cider vinegar at least 2 tablespoon a day, it is beneficial in long term basis

Almond and garlic oil:
Apply topically, massage evenly in affected area

Honey:
Drink raw honey it is beneficial in long term basis

Turmeric Juice:
Put one teaspoon in hot milk, drink before bedtime, it helps reducing pain

Ice Pack:
Apply in affected joint until swelling reduced and pain subsided

Hot compress:
Apply in affected joint until swelling reduced and pain subsided

Cayenne creams:
OTC, apply topically in affected joints to relieve pain from osteoarthritis

Ginger Tea:
One grated teaspoon of fresh ginger to a cup of hot water. Take two times daily.

Castor oil hot packs:
Apply to affected joint to reduce pain

Angelica Oil:
Add 5 drops of angelica oil to a hot bath to reduce spasms.

Prevention

Regular rest and exercise
Avoid foods that aggravates the symptoms like beans which produces uric acids