Dangers of Chronic Joint Inflammation

Hermina friends!

Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint inflammation caused by cartilage damage. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative and progressive disease that attacks two-thirds of the population aged over 65 years, with a prevalence of 60.5% in men and 70.5% in women.

There are many risk factors associated with osteoarthritis, including obesity, smoking, gender, muscle weakness, excessive or insufficient physical activity, previous trauma, proprioceptive function, inherited osteoarthritis risk factors, and exercise habits.

The most common problem is joint pain, which interferes with daily activities. In addition, the joint may feel stiff or swollen, and there may be a grinding sound when moving the joint, which usually worsens with movement and decreases with rest. Joint pain most often occurs in the knee, hip, spine, and ankle areas.

The patient's treatment strategy and treatment options are determined by the location of the joints affected by OA, individual characteristics, and needs. Therefore, a careful general assessment of the joint and the patient is necessary to make treatment safe and simple, taking into account patient education and a multidisciplinary approach.

The goals of osteoarthritis treatment are:
1. Pain reduction or control
2. Optimization of joint movement function
3. Reducing limitations on daily physical activity (dependence on others) and improving quality of life
4. Prevention of disease development
5. Prevention of complications

Osteoarthritis treatment can be done using non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches.

1. These non-medical approaches include:
Provide information to patients about their disease. In education, the important thing is that patients must be independent and not always dependent on other people. Although OA cannot be cured, the patient's quality of life can be improved.
Aerobic exercise program
Weight loss program if overweight to reduce stress on arthritic joints and improve mobility.

2. Pharmacological approach: administering medication to treat pain symptoms. For severe osteoarthritis, especially in the knee joint, arthroplasty can be performed.

Immediately consult a doctor if you experience the symptoms mentioned above, especially if these complaints limit your activities. The doctor will carry out an examination to determine the cause and determine treatment according to the complaint experienced.