Osteoartritis

El riesgo aumenta a medida que envejece, especialmente después de la edad 50.

El sobrepeso o la obesidad sobrecargan las articulaciones que soportan peso, como las caderas, las rodillas y la columna vertebral, lo que puede acelerar la destrucción del cartílago articular.

Un historial familiar de osteoartritis puede hacerle más propenso a desarrollarla.

People with conditions that cause joints to not form or align correctly, such as hip dysplasia, may be at greater risk for osteoarthritis.

Conditions like Diabetes, gout, Artritis reumatoide and Artritis psoriásica can also increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Los trabajos y actividades que requieren movimientos repetidos, como pintar o lanzar, pueden aumentar su riesgo.

Fracturas, ligament tears, tendon injuries and dislocations, even those that occurred early in life, can increase the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis.

Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, particularly after menopause.

Los cambios en el estilo de vida pueden ayudar a controlar sus síntomas y mantenerle sano. Su médico puede recomendarle:

• Assistive devices: Braces, walkers and canes may help by taking pressure off affected joints.
• Changes to activities: Your doctor or a physical therapist can teach you ways to modify your work routines or daily activities to reduce joint pain.
• Exercise: Physical activity keeps your joints mobile and prevents muscle weakness that can worsen osteoarthritis. Choose low-impact activities, such as walking, water aerobics and cycling, and avoid activities that worsen your discomfort.
• Weight loss: Losing weight, if necessary, can significantly improve your pain levels and make medications more effective. Getting enough physical activity and eating a healthy diet will help, or your doctor may recommend a medical weight management program.

Existen varias opciones terapéuticas para ayudarle con sus molestias de la artrosis o complementar otras opciones de tratamiento que esté utilizando actualmente. Entre ellas se incluyen:

• Terapia física: Fisioterapeutas create customized exercise plans to stretch and strengthen muscles around a painful joint, which can reduce your symptoms and help you maintain joint function. They can also teach you activity modifications that help reduce stress on a joint and use therapies, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (which delivers low-voltage electrical currents to a joint), to address pain.
• Terapia ocupacional: Terapeutas ocupacionales can help you with activities such as dressing and eating, so you can maintain your independence. They may also help you learn to use devices, such as braces or splints.

Complementary therapies can be a valuable addition to your osteoarthritis treatment plan, offering relief from symptoms and improving overall well-being. Integrated medicine is not a substitute for medical treatment but can work alongside traditional approaches to enhance your care. Your options may include:

• Acupuntura
• MASAJE
• Meditación y atención plena
• Yoga
• Suplementos dietéticos

Antes de probar una terapia complementaria, hable con su médico o profesional sanitario para asegurarse de que es segura y adecuada para sus necesidades.

Muchos medicamentos pueden tratar los síntomas de la artrosis. Usted y su médico pueden trabajar juntos, experimentando con diferentes tipos o combinaciones, para encontrar el tratamiento adecuado para sus síntomas.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs address pain by reducing swelling and inflammation. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and aspirin. If those don't provide relief, your doctor can prescribe alternatives, such as celecoxib and diclofenac.
• Topical creams and other products: Often available over the counter, topical products for arthritis include roll-on liquids, creams, ointments and patches. The active ingredients vary by product and may include NSAIDs, capsaicin, camphor, lidocaine and menthol.
• Steroid injections: Corticosteroids are a type of steroid that reduces pain and swelling. They work temporarily and can have side effects if used long-term, so your doctor will help you decide how often to receive them.
• Viscosupplementation: Another type of joint injection, viscosupplementation involves hyaluronic acid, a substance that can lubricate your joints. Viscosupplementation is typically used to treat knee arthritis.

Cuando los tratamientos no quirúrgicos ya no le proporcionan el alivio que necesita, su médico puede recomendarle la cirugía. Los cirujanos ortopédicos utilizan algunos procedimientos diferentes para tratar la artrosis.

• Arthroscopy: Surgeons perform arthroscopy by inserting a small camera (arthroscope) through a tiny incision to view joint damage. The camera guides the surgeon, who uses special tools to repair the damage. Arthroscopy can also be used to remove bone spurs or other bone fragments in a joint or repair a joint lining.
• Joint replacement surgery: Also called arthroplasty, joint replacement surgery allows your surgeon to replace all (total joint replacement) or part (partial joint replacement) of an arthritic joint with a new man-made joint, reducing discomfort and restoring movement. The most commonly replaced joints are the knees and hips, but doctors can also replace shoulders, ankles, wrists and elbows.
• Joint fusion: Also called arthrodesis, joint fusion is a procedure in which the bones of a joint are connected, or fused, together to prevent movement. When the joint can’t move, you experience less pain. You may benefit from joint fusion if you have arthritis in your spine or in smaller joints, such as the hand and foot.
• Osteotomy: If joint replacement isn't an option, an osteotomy may help manage osteoarthritis. This procedure involves removing or adding a small piece of bone near the affected joint to realign it and reduce stress on the damaged area. While it can relieve symptoms, joint replacement may still be needed in the future.