HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time.

Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint in your body, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine.

Osteoarthritis symptoms can usually be effectively managed, by Homoeopathic medicines. Staying active, maintaining a healthy weight and other treatments may slow progression of the disease and help improve pain and joint function

Causes-Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints gradually deteriorates. Cartilage is a firm, slippery tissue that permits nearly frictionless joint motion.

In osteoarthritis, the slick surface of the cartilage becomes rough. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, you may be left with bone rubbing on bone

Symptoms-Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

Pain. Your joint may hurt during or after movement.

Tenderness. Your joint may feel tender when you apply light pressure to it.

Stiffness. Joint stiffness may be most noticeable when you wake up in the morning or after a period of inactivity.

Loss of flexibility. You may not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.

Grating sensation. You may hear or feel a grating sensation when you use the joint.

Bone spurs. These extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, may form around the affected joint.

Risk factors--Factors that may increase your risk of osteoarthritis include:

Older age. The risk of osteoarthritis increases with age.

Sex. Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isn't clear why.

Obesity. Carrying extra body weight contributes to osteoarthritis in several ways, and the more you weigh, the greater your risk. Increased weight puts added stress on weight-bearing joints, such as your hips and knees. In addition, fat tissue produces proteins that may cause harmful inflammation in and around your joints.

Joint injuries. Injuries, such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident, may increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Even injuries that occurred many years ago and seemingly healed can increase your risk of osteoarthritis.

Certain occupations. If your job includes tasks that place repetitive stress on a particular joint, that joint may eventually develop osteoarthritis.

Genetics. Some people inherit a tendency to develop osteoarthritis.

Bone deformities. Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage, which can increase the risk of osteoarthritis.

Complications --Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that worsens over time. Joint pain and stiffness may become severe enough to make daily tasks difficult.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Well selected Homoeopathic medicines are effective for the management of osteoarthritis. Some of the important remedies are given below-

ANTIMONIUM CRUDUM 30- Antimonium crudum is effective for arthritis of fingers which gets worse from cold weather or by washing hands in cold water and better from warm. There is weakness and shaking of hands in writing followed by offensive flatus. Arthritis alternates  with stomach symptoms. There is bloating after eating and eructations tasting of ingesta. Digestion is disturbed with constant belching. Antimonium crudum person have a thick white coated tongue.

BRYONIA ALB 30—Bryonia alb is one of the top remedies for osteoarthritis of knee joint. Here the joints become red, hot and swollen with stitching and tearing pain , worse on least movement. Knees become stiff and painful. Knees totter and bend under him when walking. The patient feels a cracking sound while walking. The leading symptom is knee pain gets worse by walking or movement and better from taking complete rest.

BENZOIC ACID 30- Benzoic acid is an excellent remedy for osteoarthritis of finger joints with cracking sounds on moving the fingers. Painful nodes are seen on finger joints. Urinary symptom is very important for the selection of this remedy. The urine is hot, dark brown, offensive , similar to horse’s urine.

CALCAREA CARB 30-Calcarea carb is another effective remedy for osteoarthritis of knee joint especially in fat , and obese persons. Osteoarthritis pain after exposure to cold. There is tearing pain in muscles. The pain and swelling of joints gets worse when getting up from a sitting position and also by walking. Cold , clammy knees is another feature of Calcarea carb. There is cramps in calves when stretching out the legs at night.  Calcarea carb persons gets cold easily. They have a special craving for eggs and undigestable things.

CALCAREA FLOUR 30- Calcarea  flour is best for finger joint arthritis with swelling and indurated enlargements.There is nodes of stony hardness is formed on finger joints. Pain and stiffness of finger joints. Bone spurs are seen on the affected joints.

CAUSTICUM 30—Causticum is effective for arthritic pain of knee joint with cracking and tension in knees, stiffness in hollow of knee. The tearing pain in knee gets better from heat and worse by exposure to cold air. The patient experiences burning in the knee joint. There is unsteady walking and easily falling due to pain and stiffness.

COLOCYNTHIS 30- Colocynthis is best for the osteoarthritis of hip joint with cramp like pain in hip. When lies on affected side pain from hip to knees. There is stiffness of joint and shortening of tendons. The pain gets worse from motion, standing and stooping and  better from heat and by applying pressure.

RHUS TOXICODENDRON 30-Rhus tox is best for hip joint pain with tearing pain , swelling of the joints. There is marked stiffness and pain in the joint. It is more marked when getting up from a sitting position and gets better from walking or by application of heat on the affected part. The patient gets hip pain on going up the stairs or sitting down. The affected part gets paralyzed, and cannot tolerate cold fresh air.

PULSATILLA NIG 30- Pulsatilla is excellent for hip joint pain where the tearing pain shifting rapidly. Pain in hip joint as if dislocated and gets relief from motion. There is drawing , tensive pain with restlessness, sleeplessness, and chilliness. The pulsatilla person is mild, timid, emotional and tearful. They have a special craving for rich foods.

RUTA GEAVEOLENS 30-Ruta graveolens is effective for osteoarthritis of knee joint where the patient feels the knees give way , while ascending and descending stairs. The pains as if deep in long bones, must walk about. The pain gets better by applying pressure on the affected part of knee. The thighs feel broken , worse when stretching the legs.

SULPHUR 200- Sulphur is best  for osteoarthritis of knee joint and it is used as an intercurrent remedy or give when the well selected remedy fails. There pain , swelling and stiffness , which is worse on standing and using stairs. Another marked symptom along with knee joint pain is excessive burning of sole , wants them uncovered. The gait is unsteady due to stiffness and pain.