Arthritis care guidance and measures

The core goal of arthritis care has never been "complete cure", but through a combination of individualized behavioral adjustments and medical intervention, the frequency of pain attacks can be reduced by more than 60%, the speed of joint degeneration can be slowed down by 30%-50%, and the ability to perform daily activities can be preserved to the greatest extent. This is currently recognized as the optimal intervention direction by rheumatology, orthopedics, and rehabilitation departments at home and abroad.

To be honest, many people are getting more and more serious about their arthritis. It’s not because they use the wrong method, but because they follow the trend blindly without knowing what type of arthritis they have. I met a 58-year-old aunt at a community free clinic before. She had been suffering from knee pain for more than half a year. She heard her neighbor say "squat more to remove bone spurs." She did 50 squats at home every day. In the end, the pain was so painful that she couldn't go downstairs. After taking a X-ray, I found out that it was osteoarthritis combined with third-degree cartilage wear. She could just take good care of her, but she had to do arthroscopic cleaning.

There are actually many controversies about arthritis care. The most typical one is whether to move during the acute stage. Traditional orthopedic recommendations are that if the joint has obvious redness, swelling, heat and pain, and the pain score reaches 5 or above (on a 10-point scale, pain that is too painful to sleep is 7 or above), it is best to keep the joint immobilized for 72 hours and try not to bear weight to avoid stimulating the synovial membrane to secrete more fluid. However, the latest research on sports medicine in recent years has given a different conclusion: as long as the pain is tolerable and the score is below 4 points, it is completely possible to do completely non-load-bearing muscle activation training such as lying down, raising the legs, sitting and hooking the feet. On the contrary, it can speed up local blood circulation, promote the absorption of fluid accumulation, and shorten the course of the disease by about one-third. Both options are actually correct. The key point is to look at your current pain level. Just don’t take it hard.

When the redness, swelling and pain subside, don't lie still every day. Many people think that "joints are consumables and should be used sparingly." This is actually only half true. Joints are like door hinges at home. If you open and close them every day, they will become smooth. If they are left closed and unused for many years, they will become rusty and stuck. It’s just that you have to choose the right method. For example, patients with knee arthritis should not run marathons or dance square dances that require frequent squatting. Instead, use slow walking, swimming, baduanjin and other exercises that put less pressure on the joints. ； Patients with hand arthritis are less likely to play mahjong or tighten bottle caps for a long time. It is best to wear soft gloves with velvet when doing housework and avoid touching ice water directly. The saddest thing I have ever seen was a patient whose rheumatoid arthritis was well controlled. In winter, he washed vegetables with cold water every day. Within half a month, his finger joints swelled to the point where he could not bend, and he had to readjust his medication.

Many people are concerned about whether they should take ammonia sugar or wear plasters. In fact, there are quite big differences in this area. Guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in previous years do not recommend routine use of glucosamine, believing that the analgesic effect for most patients with osteoarthritis is no different from a placebo. ； However, European and domestic rheumatism and immunity guidelines believe that patients with mild to moderate cartilage wear and tear can indeed relieve the symptoms of joint soreness and softness in about 40% of people by taking medicinal glucosamine for 3-6 months. As for plasters, most Western medicine doctors do not recommend the use of Internet-famous products that claim to be "a cure with one patch." Many illegally add hormones and analgesics. Short-term application does not hurt, but long-term use will accelerate cartilage degeneration. If the pain is severe, use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory plasters produced by regular manufacturers or plasters with traditional Chinese medicine to warm the menstruation and activate blood circulation. If you are allergic, stop immediately.

Let me talk about a detail that many people overlook: choosing the right shoes is more effective than taking a lot of health supplements. Especially for patients with knee and ankle arthritis, stop wearing hard-soled canvas shoes, leather shoes, and stiletto heels. When buying shoes, pinch the soles. Shoes with soft elasticity and a heel height of 1.5-2cm are most suitable. They can cushion the impact of the ground on the joints when walking. I had an old patient before. After changing to a pair of qualified walking shoes, the frequency of knee pain was directly reduced by half. Also, don’t wear knee pads every day. The tight-fitting knee pads with velvet can only be worn when you go out to cool down or when the pain is severe. If you wear them at home for a long time, the thigh muscles will atrophy, which will make the joints more unstable.

As for dietary taboos, don’t be too strict. If you have gouty arthritis, you must strictly avoid high-purine seafood, beer, and animal offal. During the attack, don’t even touch thick broth. ； But for ordinary osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, most Western medicine doctors believe that there are no clear taboos. Unless you clearly experience aggravation of joint pain after eating certain foods, you don’t need to completely give up seafood and cold drinks. Of course, Chinese medicine generally recommends eating less raw and cold drinks. This is just based on your own acceptance. There is no need to argue about right or wrong.

Of course, everyone's joint condition is different. Some people's joints still look like newly maintained bearings at the age of 60, while some people's joints are almost worn out at the age of 40. If you really want to make a care plan, it is best to go to the hospital to take a X-ray and blood test to check inflammation indicators to clarify the type and severity of your own arthritis before making adjustments. Don't copy the "universal care prescriptions" on the Internet. After all, the comfort of your own joints comes first.