Osteoarthritis self-care: Know what you can do for yourself

 

There are many conditions that can affect your joints, giving rise to pain and discomfort that prevent you from taking part in normal day to day activities. Osteoarthritis is one set condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is the most common form of arthritis, an umbrella term used for a group of conditions that cause the degeneration of the joints. Although osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, experts specialising in hip replacement in Indore suggest that it is most likely to affect the hands, spine, knees and hips.

Osteoarthritis symptoms can drastically impact the quality of your life and lower the lifespan of your joints. Luckily most of the symptoms are easily manageable with healthy lifestyle changes and timely treatment. This not only helps to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis but also enhances the function of your joints. In this blog, we have listed a few tips that will help you take care of your joints, with the help of the best spine surgeon in Indore.

Stay physically active  - When you are having pain in your joints, getting out of your bed is the last thing that you would want to do. Most people have this misconception that complete bed rest will help to ease osteoarthritis pain. Well, this is completely wrong. A sedentary lifestyle is an open doorway to a plethora of diseases and ailments. It promotes obesity which is the biggest enemy of your joints. Sitting at the same place for hours can also impact muscle strength and joint flexibility. Indulging in physical activities helps to keep your joints healthy and strengthens them. You can start by going out for a walk in the morning or evening. Avoid vigorous exercises and include mild to moderate exercises in your routine. You can also try Yoga and pilates.

Fill your plate with nutritious food - If you are planning to take care of your joints, you need to make changes in your eating habits as well. Focus on eating a healthy and well-balanced diet, making sure you do not miss out on any important nutrient. Eat foods loaded with Vitamin C and Omega 3 fatty acids. Avoid unhealthy fats as these promote weight gain which can put an unnecessary strain on your joints. Replace your normal dairy products with low-fat dairy products.

It can be quite difficult to decide what to eat and what not to eat on your own. You can always take help from the top arthroscopic surgeon in Indore.

Prioritise your sleep over everything else - A healthy sleep cycle is pertinent for the normal functioning of various organs in your body. Wondering how?  Every night we sleep, the organs in our body get the rest that they need to recover from daily wear and tear. When you do not sleep properly, it naturally affects your body's ability to heal. As such, your joints and muscles do not get the rest that they need. This aggravates the pain and other symptoms associated with osteoarthritis.

Beat pain with hot or cold packs - Applying heat over the effective area can help to ease joint pain and stiffness, whereas a cold pack can help to bring down swelling. Both the techniques are very commonly used and recommended by experts from the best hospital in Indore.

Develop a positive outlook - One of the most common mistakes that many people make after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis is that they start believing that there is nothing they can do for the joints. This is completely wrong. You cannot accept defeat without even trying. No doubt managing osteoarthritis can be a bit difficult without proper care and guidance. But you can easily find the best joint experts in Indore to guide you.