Osteoarthritis Self-Care Treatments
You can still enjoy life by delaying or limiting osteoarthritis symptoms with proper self-care. It has been shown that weight loss greatly reduces the risk for osteoarthritis in the knee. Therefore, regular exercise is imperative. It also helps strengthen the muscle, possibly stimulating cartilage growth. Although, high-impact sports such as running should be avoided.

In addition, a balanced diet including Antioxidant vitamins C and E is believed to provide some protection. Vitamin D and calcium are recommended for strong bones. The recommended daily dose of calcium is 1000-1200 mg. The current guideline for vitamin D is 400 IU per day. You should not take more than 1200 IU of vitamin D per day.

The application of heat, such as hot soaks and warm paraffin wax treatments can relieve pain. Many people also claim reduced symptoms by wearing assistive devices which improve function of moveable parts of the body or to align, align, support, or correct deformities. Splints or braces help with joint alignment and weight redistribution. Other examples include canes, crutches or walkers, and orthopedic footwear.

 Lastly, there are many over-the-counter medications which can temporarily relieve pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the first drug recommended for osteoarthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also commonly used for arthritis pain. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil), ketoprofen (Orudis, and naproxen (Aleve). Newer OTC preparations include glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin, which are natural substances found in the joint fluid. Chondroitin is thought to promote an increase in the making of the building blocks of cartilage (collagen and proteoglycans) as well as having an anti-inflammatory effect.

Glucosamine may also stimulate production of the building blocks of cartilage in addition to being an anti-inflammation agent. People with diabetes should consult with their doctor first since Glucosamine has been found to increase blood sugar in animal studies. A recent study showed that glucosamine slowed the progression of osteoarthritis in the knee.