What are the care measures for arthritis?

The core of arthritis care is to focus on reducing joint load, alleviating uncomfortable symptoms, and delaying joint degeneration. There is no universal formula. Adjustments must be made based on your own arthritis type and stage. If you step on the wrong trap, it may aggravate the symptoms.

Two years ago, I treated a 62-year-old patient with knee osteoarthritis. When he first came to see me, he had a hard time even walking downstairs. He said that he had heard people say that arthritis requires "recuperation". He basically sits and lays down except for eating and going to the toilet. Over the past six months, his thigh muscles have lost a lot of weight, and the pain has become worse. In fact, many people's misunderstanding about arthritis care is "to move or not to move." Being completely immobile will only cause the muscles supporting the joints to slowly atrophy, and in turn make the joints wear out more. However, moving blindly is not enough. Actions such as climbing stairs, squatting, and mountain climbing that require joints to bear weight and bend should be done as little as possible. You can usually choose swimming, slow walking, or sitting on an air bike. For some exercises that put less pressure on the joints, if it is inconvenient to go out, just practice silent squats at home - lean your back against the wall, keep your knees from going past your toes, and rest for 10 to 15 seconds each time. Slowly practice until you can hold it for 1 minute at a time. The thigh muscles will become stronger, and the pressure on the joints will naturally be reduced. The old patient practiced for more than three months, and he later walked two stops carrying vegetables without much pain.

As for whether people should use hot or cold compresses for arthritis, there is actually no standard answer. If you happen to be in the acute attack stage and your joints are red, swollen, painful and hot to the touch, hot compresses will only dilate blood vessels and aggravate the swelling. Apply an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes (remember to wrap the cloth not to directly ice the skin), and the relief effect will be much better.； If you usually just suffer from cold stiffness and a dull soreness, apply a warm towel or hot water bottle for a while, the tight joints will be loosened a lot, and the flexibility will be improved.

Don’t think that weight has nothing to do with joints. I used to have a 30-year-old gouty arthritis patient who weighed more than 180 pounds. He couldn’t control his mouth and always ate seafood and drank beer. He had pain two or three times a month. Later, he worked hard to lose 22 pounds. In addition, he controlled the intake of high-purine foods, and he didn’t have an attack for more than half a year. Especially for patients with knee arthritis, for every 1 pound of weight gain, the knee will bear 3 pounds more pressure when walking. Controlling the weight within a reasonable range is more effective than taking any health supplements.

There are also some small things that people tend to overlook. For example, don’t choose flat shoes or high heels that are too hard. The soles are 1-2 cm thick and have a little elasticity. Stepping on them can cushion a lot of the reaction force on the joints from the ground. I once met an aunt who had been wearing high heels for more than 20 years. Her knee cartilage was almost gone when she was in her early 50s. Later, she changed to soft-soled walking shoes, combined with muscle exercises. Originally, the doctor said that the joints would be replaced in two years. Now, it has been five or six years, and she can still shop for groceries and dance square dance normally. Don’t wear protective gear blindly. Wear it only when the pain is severe or when you have to walk for a long time. You don’t need to wear it all the time at home. If you wear it for a long time, your muscles will be “lazy” and it will make the joint stability worse.

As for supplements such as ammonia sugar and chondroitin that many people ask about, the current opinions in the industry are not unanimous. For patients in the early and middle stages, whose cartilage has not been completely worn out, appropriate supplementation may have a certain relief effect. However, if it has reached the advanced stage and the joint space has been significantly narrowed, taking it will not have a significant effect. Don't believe in those miracle drugs that claim to "cure arthritis". If the pain is really severe, don't bear it. Ask a doctor to prescribe targeted anti-inflammatory analgesics, which is much more reliable than buying random health products on your own.

In fact, arthritis is a chronic degenerative problem, and care does not take a day or two. Slowly adjust your living habits, don't mess around, and don't take it seriously. Most of the symptoms can be controlled well without affecting normal life.