Osteoarthritis Treatment

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease that affects millions of people worldwide. This causes wear and tear on the joints, leading to pain and limitations in mobility. Osteoarthritis treatment aims to improve patients’ quality of life and relieve symptoms. In this article we wrote for you, we will try to give you information about the definition, causes and symptoms of osteoarthritis.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that occurs as a result of wear and tear of the cartilage tissue in the joints. Cartilage is a type of tissue that facilitates the movement of joints and prevents bones from rubbing against each other. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the thinning or even complete loss of cartilage tissue over time. This condition causes bones to rub against each other and painful, stiff joints. Although osteoarthritis is usually seen in older individuals, it can also occur at younger ages due to genetic factors and joint traumas.

What Causes Osteoarthritis?

Although the exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, many factors are thought to play a role in the development of the disease. These factors include;

• The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age because cartilage naturally wears and wears out over time.
• Women are at higher risk of developing osteoarthritis than men.
• Individuals with a family history of osteoarthritis may be predisposed to the disease.
• Excess weight puts extra strain on the joints and accelerates cartilage wear.
• Joint trauma, such as an accident, fall, or sports injury, can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis.
• Work that puts a load on the joints by constantly making the same movements can cause osteoarthritis, especially in the knee and waist joints.

What Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

Symptoms of osteoarthritis vary depending on the severity of the disease and the number of joints affected. The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis are:

• Joint pain,
• Hardness,
• Limitation of movement,
• Swelling,
• Crepitation,

Osteoarthritis symptoms can significantly affect quality of life. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you can relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life with appropriate treatment and lifestyle changes by consulting a healthcare professional.

How Is Osteoarthritis Diagnosed?

Osteoarthritis is a disease characterized by the wear and tear of the cartilage tissue in the joints. It usually occurs due to old age, obesity and genetic factors. The diagnosis of osteoarthritis can be made by the patient’s complaints, physical examination and radiological examinations deemed necessary.

First of all, patient complaints and medical history are taken into account. The patient usually presents with symptoms such as pain, limitation of movement and stiffness in the joint. These symptoms may cause the doctor to suspect osteoarthritis.

During a physical exam, the doctor checks for abnormalities such as tenderness, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. In addition, the patient’s mobility and joint functions are evaluated.

If necessary, radiological examinations are performed. X-ray images show changes specific to osteoarthritis, such as loss of cartilage and bone deformations in the joint. These images also help assess the extent and progression of the disease. Rarely, more detailed imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) may also be used.

In some cases, joint fluid sampling may be done. This procedure is used to examine the inflammatory fluid in the joint and rule out other joint diseases.

How Is Osteoarthritis Treated?

Osteoarthritis treatment aims to improve the patient’s quality of life, reduce pain and preserve joint functions. The treatment plan is determined by the patient’s age, state of health, and the severity of the disease. Treatment methods include:

• Medications used to reduce pain and inflammation include analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and corticosteroid injections.

• Physical therapy aims to increase the patient’s mobility and joint functions. For this purpose, methods such as exercise programs, massage, hot and cold applications and ultrasound therapy can be used.

• Obesity aggravates the symptoms of osteoarthritis by increasing the pressure on the joint. Losing weight relieves pain and improves joint function by reducing pressure on the joint.

• Orthopedic products such as knee pads, wristbands and walking supports reduce pain and increase mobility by supporting the joint.

• Surgical treatment options may be considered for patients with advanced osteoarthritis. These methods include arthroscopy, osteotomy and joint prosthesis applications.

What Should Be Done to Prevent Osteoarthritis?

Although osteoarthritis is not a completely preventable disease, some lifestyle changes and preventive measures can reduce the risk and slow the progression of the disease.

• Regular exercises that maintain joint flexibility and strength reduce the risk of osteoarthritis. Low-impact exercises such as swimming, cycling and walking may be preferred.

• By maintaining an ideal weight, it is possible to reduce the load on the joints and reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.

• A low-fat and high-fiber diet aids weight control and supports healthy joints. Also, consuming foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants can reduce inflammation.

• Appropriate equipment should be used and safety precautions should be taken to prevent joint injuries during sports and daily activities.

• Precautions such as proper sitting and bed positions, proper shoe selection and an ergonomic working environment reduce the load on the joints and reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.

What Happens If Osteoarthritis Is Untreated?

If left untreated, osteoarthritis can lead to serious problems that significantly reduce the quality of life of patients and limit their daily activities.

Some of the problems that may arise if osteoarthritis is not treated can be explained as follows;

When osteoarthritis is left untreated, pain and stiffness in the joints gradually increase. This situation can become permanent and unbearable for the patient. Sleep patterns may be disrupted due to pain and quality of life decreases.

As osteoarthritis progresses, the cartilage tissue in the joints wears off more and the bones rub against each other. This can lead to deformities and deformations in the joint.

Damage to the joints due to osteoarthritis leads to reduced mobility. Patients have difficulty performing their daily activities and risk losing their independence.

Patients who avoid using joints with osteoarthritis experience muscle weakness over time. This further reduces mobility, increasing the risk of falls and injury.

When osteoarthritis is not treated, other health problems may occur due to the pain and limitation of movement experienced by patients. For example, a sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

When osteoarthritis is not treated, serious problems arise that significantly reduce the quality of life of patients and limit their daily lives. For this reason, it is important that people who experience symptoms of osteoarthritis consult a specialist, slow down the progression of the disease and maintain their quality of life with appropriate treatment and lifestyle changes.

Which Doctor to Go to for Osteoarthritis?

Since osteoarthritis is a chronic disease caused by the wear and tear of the cartilage tissue in the joints, it is important to consult a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Doctors who can be consulted for osteoarthritis include;

Orthopedics and Traumatology specialist; Because osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints and bones, orthopedics and traumatology specialists are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Orthopedists recommend drug therapy, physical therapy and, if necessary, surgery to slow the progression of the disease.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist; Patients with osteoarthritis may refer to physical medicine and rehabilitation professionals to increase their range of motion and reduce pain. These specialists provide guidance on physical therapy, exercise programs and pain management in order to improve patients’ quality of life.

Rheumatology Specialist; Since osteoarthritis is in the group of rheumatic diseases, rheumatology specialists are also experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Rheumatologists recommend drug therapy to control inflammation and pain caused by the disease, and they recommend lifestyle changes to improve patients’ quality of life.

Osteoarthritis Treatment Prices in Turkey

Turkey has succeeded in making its name known to the world with its investments and Especially the latest technological devices used in diagnosis and treatment procedures have been a beacon of hope for many diseases. However, there has been an increase in health tourism in Türkiye.

• Hospitals are large, clean, spacious and fully equipped in terms of technological equipment.
• Turkish doctors are specialized, successful, and skilled in their fields.
• Nurses and carers are friendly and compassionate.
• Finding answers to the questions asked quickly and accurately.
• Patience and understanding of all staff, including the intermediary company dealing with the patient.
• Turkey offers holiday opportunities with its natural and historical beauties.
• Easy transportation.
• Diagnosis, treatment, accommodation, eating, drinking, dressing, and holiday needs can be met at affordable prices.

Such situations are shown among the reasons for preference. We can see that patients and relatives of patients who want to come to Turkey are doing research on Osteoarthritis Treatment Prices in Turkey. However, it would not be correct to give clear price information at this stage. Many factors such as the type of disease, stage, diagnosis process, treatment process, and stay in Türkiye affect the price issue. If you want to get more detailed price information, you can contact us. In addition, if you come to Turkey for treatment through us, we can facilitate your visa application process with the invitation letter sent by us to the consulate.