The Latest Methods for Treating Cartilage
OA is an inflammatory condition of the joints, commonly affecting the hips, knees, and hands. A person is suffering from OA experiences pain during motion and stiffness of the joint. As a result, they cannot carry out their daily activities properly.
The main reason behind this disease is age-related wear & tear of the articular cartilage. Also, if you have suffered injuries or undergone surgeries on your bones, there are high chances that you may develop OA of certain joints in your body later in life.
What exactly happens with normal cartilage?
The smooth surface lining within our joints, known as articular cartilage, acts as a cushioning material between the bone ends, facilitating when we bend or rotate our joints. But, OA affects this cartilage resulting in damage or degradation of it. This is why the person suffers from pain and stiffness during morning hours and after periods of inactivity.
What are the various types & symptoms?
OA is broadly categorized into two types based on their symptoms:
1) Primary OA:
There is no specific cause behind the disorder, and people mainly develop it due to the aging process. The affected joints include those present at hips and knees and between fingers and toes (small joints). It occurs due to the loss of joint cushioning material known as articular cartilage, which permits easy joint movement.
2) Secondary OA:
When a person has an injury or surgery on the affected joint, there are also chances that they may develop OA in that particular area. The symptoms include pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints, which limit their movement.
How is a diagnosis of OA made?
To diagnose this medical condition, the following tests can be done:
1) X-rays:
This imaging study helps the physician visualize the bones and joints of the patient and any internal abnormalities present within them. In addition, based on these images, they can accurately determine whether or not you have articular cartilage loss from your damaged areas. Also, an acute injury on one of your knee parts sometimes shows irregularity between femur & tibia bones.
2) MRI Scan:
It works by producing detailed images of the cartilage in your joints using powerful magnets & radio waves. This imaging test helps define any damage or loss to the articular cartilage tissues present in that particular area that is causing pain and inflammation.
3) Radiograph:
This simple exam involves taking X-ray images of your affected joints. In this test, they utilize low doses of radiation to view the bones and any abnormalities present within them.
Which are the most common signs & symptoms?
1) Difficulty while performing day-to-day activities:
A person having OA feels pain and stiffness in their joints that make them incapable of carrying out normal functions. Pain may worsen during periods of activity and rest due to movements. Also, you feel uncomfortable when you try moving it from one position to another or after long hours of inactivity.
2) Swelling in the affected area:
This issue is considerably found with secondary OA of joints which may cause severe pain, swelling, or redness between bones. While on the other hand, people were suffering from primary OA experience stiffness without any swellinnodeBurning sensation during morning hours:
If you are experiencing this problem then I,t means that your knees are inflamed, and the synovial fluid present within them leaks out into surrounding tissues causing extreme discomfort.
4) Feeling tightness & stiffness in your joints:
The cartilage cushions present at different areas of our body become more firm, resulting in feeling uncomfortable when performing movements. When the cartilage wears out or breaks down due to the everyday tear process, one might feel stiffness and pain in the joints.
How is OA treated?
The best way to deal with this medical problem is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and follow preventive measures. The physician will also suggest certain medications to relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness. However, surgery is required if the disorder has worsened to extreme levels.
How to increase cartilage in joints naturally:
Cartilage is what keeps your joints together. Without it, your joints would be “floating” in the body. Ideally, cartilage plays a vital essential in absorbing shock and increasing mobility on the joints. However, different types of arthritis can damage the cartilage tissues.
If you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, then the chances are that you might be looking for some increase in this essential tissue in your body that helps joints move smoothly.
Here we will share with you some tips on how to increase cartilage in joints naturally:
Increase Vitamin C-A diet rich in vitamin C helps increase collagen production, which provides a support structure for bones and muscles, thus r resulting in healthy connective tissues like muscle, tendons, and cartilage. You can increase your vitamin C intake by eating oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruits, broccoli, and bell peppers. All these contain more than 50% of the recommended daily allowance.
Increase Magnesium-Magnesium works as a catalyst for many vital chemical reactions in cells, thus allowing bones to increase collagen levels. In turn, this leads to healthy cartilage development. Therefore yoThereforeould eat spinach, chard, swiss chard, kale, almonds, cashews, etc. which, are rich sources of magnesium.
Increase Glucosamine :
Glucosamine is a supplement used for treating osteoarthritis. It can repair joints and tissues, reduce inflammation and thus increase cartilage tissues. Glucosamine is naturally found in shellfish, crabs, and shark fins.
Glutathione benefits bones and joints. It helps increase the production of enzymes that break down proteins into amino acids or peptides, then stimulates the manufacture of new cartilage cells. Some foods that are rich in glutathione are broccoli, pumpkin seeds, spinach, cauliflower, beets, cabbage, lentils, etc
Increase Serine :
this amino acid aids joint lubrication. The more serine there is, the better your joint will be lubricated. Eggs are a good source of this nutrient, fish, etc.
Ayurvedic treatment for cartilage regeneration:
Ayurvedic treatment of cartilages does not precisely increase cartilage but the,e same is done naturally. Some herbal remedies help treatreatartilage, menstrual cramps, and even osteoarthritis.
Rheumatism:
1. Put two teaspoonfuls of pure Vaseline (preferably uncolored) into 1 cup of hot water (boiled). Add five drops of hor oil, eucalyptus oil, thyme oil to this mixture. Massage with this solution every night before going to bed or alternate nights for 3-4 weeks or till you get relief from pain.
Applying heat relieves pain:
2. Mix half tablespoon ground black pepper, five drops of cantharides (beetle) oil, and one teaspoon fresh ginger juice. Apply this paste onto painful joints, cover with a bandage and keep it warm at night before going to bed for relief from pain.
Applying heat increases blood supply:
3. Boil 15 gm of Myrrh with 8 gm of saffron in about 300 ml water till the volume reduces by half (keep stirring). Strain the brew through muslin cloth or gauze into any vessel. Leave overnight keeping,g covered with an airtight lid.
The following days, gently liquid over the affected joint before going out to work/exercise, etc. Repeat 3-4 times daily for relief. If taken en in small quantities, Myrrh is an s of painkiller.
Boil an equal amount of dried ginger powder in one cup of water till volume reduces to half. Strain the mixture through gauze or muslin cloth into another vessel. Apply this liquid on the affected joint gently before going to work/exercise etc.
Repeat 3-4 times daily till you get relief from pain. Ginger powder taken in small amounts is also a good painkiller and works well for rheumatism, joint pains, etc. Drink it with milk, though, as ginger is pungent in taste if taken alone.