DRUGS
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Over-the-counter painkillers:
For mild pain, acetaminophen should be your first choice, since it relieves discomfort without damaging the digestive tract. If pain persists, your doctor may recommend aspirin or ibuprofen, which can reduce the swelling and damage due to inflammation; anti-inflammatory drugs, however, can be harsh on the stomach
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COX-2 inhibitors:
These newer analgesics tend to cause fewer stomach problems than traditional anti-inflammatories. But they are expensive, and recent studies have linked them to heart problems
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Tetracycline:
These antibiotics were designed to kill germs, but they can also slow erosion of the cartilage
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Hyaluronic Acid:
Injections of this natural lubricant, particularly in the knee, can ease pain for as long as a year
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Corticosteroids:
Shots of steroids, which reduce inflammation, can provide a short-term fix for joint pain. Continued injections, however, can worsen a damaged joint by masking discomfort and enabling you to continue destructive activities. Because their pain is limited to specific joints, osteoarthritis sufferers don't need the wider-ranging effects of corticosteroid pills
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EXERCISE
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Water workouts:
The buoyancy of water can help you move stiff joints without gravity's weight-bearing pressure
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Recumbent bicycle:
The reclining position takes the burden off such sensitive joints as the knees and hips |
Walking:
If it doesn't hurt too much, walking is one of the best ways to keep joints from seizing up‹from the ankles to the shoulders
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Low-impact aerobics:
Any exercise that doesn't put pounding pressure on the joints can help build up muscle and keep ligaments and tendons flexible enough to give the joints the support they need
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ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
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Acupuncture:
The Chinese believe it relieves pain by re-aligning life energy, known as qi; but Western doctors think the judicious placement of needles may actually work by stimulating the release of endorphins, the body's own painkillers
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Glucosamine:
Preliminary evidence suggests that these supplements, derived from lobster and crab shells, may help relieve arthritis pain, possibly by encouraging cartilage growth |
Chondroitin Sulfate:
Chondroitin is believed to
help keep cartilage from breaking down; many arthritis sufferers take it with glucosamin
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PREVENTION
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Keep moving:
Flexing joints lubricates and protects them, so exercise regularly. But avoid high-stress activities that pound on knees or hips
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Stay slim:
Carrying too much weight puts extraordinary stress on the knees, hips and ankles. Shed excess pounds to take a load off the joints
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Build muscle:
Joints need a strong support system; maintaining muscle tone will help stabilize knees, hips and shoulders
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