Understanding Osteoarthritis: A Chronic Health Challenge

Hi Friends,

For the next few weeks, let's dive into the world of chronic diseases and management, or CDM. First up, Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA), often referred to as "wear and tear" arthritis, is the most common form of arthritis affecting millions globally. More specifically, approximately 5 million Canadians are affected. It's a degenerative joint disease where the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears down over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling, primarily in the hands, hips, knees, and spine.

As a chronic condition, OA can significantly impact daily life, making simple tasks difficult and reducing the quality of life. It's crucial to manage OA effectively to maintain mobility and minimize pain.

Five Strategies to Manage Osteoarthritis

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Extra body weight adds stress to weight-bearing joints, worsening OA symptoms. Weight loss can relieve this stress and reduce pain.
2. Stay Active: Engage in low-impact exercises like swimming or cycling to keep joints mobile and reduce stiffness.
3. Physical Therapy: A tailored physical therapy program can help alleviate pain, strengthen joints, and improve flexibility.
4. Joint Injections: Options like steroid or hyaluronic acid injections can provide pain relief by reducing inflammation or lubricating the joints. These require detailed assessments from an orthopedic surgeon.
5. Consider Diet Changes: Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods such as beans, fish, fruits, and vegetables to naturally fight inflammation.

Resources

• The Arthritis Society: Offers a wealth of information on OA, including symptom management and self-care strategies.
• Arthritis Online Learning Modules: Provides tools to help manage OA effectively (I highly recommend checking these out).

OA can impact quality of life and while it is a chronic condition, with the right strategies and support, you can manage your symptoms and maintain an active, fulfilling life.

In health,

Matthew Jubelius , RN

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