Choosing your calories carefully is a start. Chicken for instance has half the calories of beef if prepared right. As you progress on to try several treatment options, it is advisable to keep a journal and diligently record whatever therapeutic regimen you are going through and the perceived results. This is to assess what type of treatment has the best outcome for you and which should be discontinued.

Gentle exercise would help reduce pain and relieve stiffness of the joints. As mentioned before, patients would also need to shed off unwanted pounds to lessen the pressure and damage to weight-bearing joints. It would be good to consult your doctor to assess the severity of your condition and the extent of affected joints before initiating an exercise regimen so as to avoid overexerting yourself. Though no specific diet has been proven to be truly effective against osteoarthritis, eating a well-balance meal with reduced fat contents would certainly help.

Take ample rests in between activities so you won't tax your joints beyond their capacity. However, do not spend the whole day lying or just sitting down, as long periods of inactivity would also be bad for osteoarthritis patients.

Some osteoarthritis patients also apply either hot or cold compress on swelling and painful joints. You have to try both before you can assess which works best for you. The application of heat can relax the muscles around the joints, while cold can numb your joints so you can't feel that much pain.

Apart from exercise, most doctors would recommend the intake of several drugs and supplements, as well as topical gels and creams. One drug that you can readily buy from the pharmacy is acetaminophen, a pain reliever that does not cause stomach irritation, as compared to other types of drugs of this type. Other drugs prescribed for osteoarthritis include NSAIDs and corticosteroids.

Recent studies have established the possible alleviation and relief of osteoarthritis pain through the intake of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, substances that ultimately make up the cartilage. Furthermore, these supplements might help stop further degeneration of cartilages.

Those willing to try unconventional means of treatment might consider traditional Chinese therapy, like the intake of herbs and undergoing acupuncture sessions. Though not widely acceptable, these methods might prove to be beneficial to certain individuals.

Another option available to those suffering from osteoarthritis is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, a procedure in which minute electrical currents are delivered to the skin to interfere with pain transmission, thus resulting in lowered or reduced perception of joint pain. Another procedure involving electricity is the neuromuscular electrical stimulation of muscles. The muscles are induced to involuntarily contract, increasing its strength.

For severe pain, your doctor may recommend the injection of either steroids or synthetic viscous fluid directly unto the affected joints. Steroids have anti-inflammatory effects while the synthetic fluid may help the joint bones slide more easily against each other.

In extreme cases, however, where pain becomes unbearable and movements become next to impossible, surgical procedures are resorted to. Joints which have been misaligned due to osteoarthritis may be realigned. Bones in the ankles, wrists, fingers, and toes may also be fused, to prevent further damage. An artificial joint is also available in the market, to replace joints that are damaged beyond repair. Though still subject to the usual wear and tear, it still offers long term relief, for a maximum of 20 years or so.

Be aware, though, that all these remedies and procedures mentioned above have their accompanying risks and dangers, especially to older individuals, and that close supervision of doctors and therapists is of the outmost importance in achieving relief from osteoarthritis.

A safe and inexpensive place to start is a high quality dietary glucosamine supplement. Synflex Liquid Glucosamine makes absorption easier and faster, not only providing pain relief, but aiding in reversing the symptoms of osteoarthritis by repairing damaged cartilage in the joints. Synflex Liquid Glucosamine contains ample amounts of anti-inflammatory substances such as yucca, manganese ascorbate, and boswellin that soothe pain and swelling in the joints. Ingredients such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate serve to stimulate the production of essential components in cartilage and the product line of Synflex for people and pets has proven itself to be quite effective in reducing and eliminating joint pain caused by Osteoarthritis and other joint disease.

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