OsteoArthritis - Before consulting a doctor

“Your body is the only place you live”. Over the years we become so familiar and comfortable in our only ‘home’ that we overlook the need for its maintenance till it refuses to let us live in it comfortably anymore. Irrespective of the gender, men and women alike are so stressed and focused on tending and providing for their respective families that “Self-care” gets mentally substituted as “Selfish” or “Last Priority”. By the time our body tells us otherwise, we have given in to one of, or all of the below mentioned health hazards that could be the main and the underlying cause for osteoarthritis. If you are the kind to put off a Doctor’s consultation until it is too late for you to manage pain on your own, then this article should help you with self-analysis and daily routine changes that will help you manage your pain better as you are making up your mind to meet your doctor.

Although, nobody can advice you better than your doctor, your basic awareness on osteoarthritis will help you make the best of that consultation session with your doctor. Consider these parameters to evaluate yourself with. If you are familiar with any of these conditions, then it is time for a change in your daily routine.

1. Central Obesity

Central Obesity or abdominal obesity, commonly referred to as ‘pot belly’ along with ‘handles’ places extreme burden on the natural posture of the Spinal Cord as is displayed in the adjacent image. Added to this, as the obesity gets severe it may extend that strain to the hips, knees and the joints in the lower body. Before you know, this condition may alter your posture and your gait permanently, making you feel lesser than what you used to be.

It makes perfect sense to do a self-evaluation and take corrective steps in your daily life to ensure you do not aggravate this painful condition. Owing to this, exercise has become an increasingly important activity of one’s daily life. Being overweight may lead to accelerated osteoarthritis in the weight-bearing joints like hips and knees. Manageable weight that is not a burden on our skeleto muscular structure is the key to pain control and pain management. Provided the condition of osteoarthritis is not too advanced, a need for surgery could be completely avoided if weight is manageable.

2. Life Style issues and sleep pattern

Osteoarthritis is also casually referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis. This is because the pain occurs when the cartilage or cushion between joints breaks down. Lifestyle issues are major contributory factors to this wear and tear. Slouching long hours before the TV, texting frequently while looking down into the cell phone, jobs that require long hours of staring into the computer, jobs that require long hours of standing on the feet, or extensive travel are all sure contributors to osteoarthritis. Junk food intake aggravates a fatty liver condition or a low metabolism condition. Low metabolism makes the system sluggish, depressive and negative.

Also, junk food can cause a hormone imbalance in the system. In women, the fluctuating or depleting estrogen levels affect the bones as well as the sleeping patterns. Hence, the tolerance levels are severely compromised and increases stress. Stress can cause muscles to bunch in specific areas like the neck, shoulder, elbows, fore arms, upper and lower back. All of which alters the natural postures of the body causing permanent damage to the skeletal and muscular structure. Result? Accelerated “Wear and Tear”!

3. Dietary Consideration

A good balance diet with proteins, nutrients, minerals, vitamins and dietary fiber is a must for the body. More so, for someone with osteoarthritis. Research has suggested that a diet rich in some nutrients – particularly vitamin E – might reduce the risk of osteoarthritis or its progression.

Although there is no specific diet that can be prescribed to directly reduce the impact of osteoarthritis, indirectly a balanced diet would help in managing it and reduce the acceleration process of osteoarthritis. Food rich in antioxidants and low on calories and fat is ideal. Ayurveda states osteoarthritis is a direct impact of Vaata Dosha. Ensure your diet does not consist of anything that aggravates Vaata Dosha. On a daily basis, avoid coarse, dry and cold food. Consume hot and fresh food. Sip on warm to hot water frequently as your schedule permits.

Do not suppress natural urges. Avoid pain killers with strong chemical compositions and instead combine body treatments into your pain management agenda in place of popping pills. Body treatments (Panchakarma) from trained professionals will not only give relief from pain, it strengthens and tones muscles, reduces stress, improves circulation as well as metabolism and balances doshas in the body. Using herbal dietary supplements that have Eranda (Ricinus communis), Ashwagandha(Withania somnifera) , Triphala - Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Bibhitaki (Terminalia belerica) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula). and also using pain relief / massage oils such as Narayana Taila, Ashwagandha Bala Lakshadi Taila, Sahacharadai Taila etc., will help with pain relief and will also help in mitigating Vaata Dosha.

4. Mental, emotional and psychological make-up

Osteoarthritis age of onset is rapidly moving from 60 plus towards late and mid 40s owing to the advancement of technology and usage and over usage of computers, laptops and hand held devices. Those patients who are suffering this pain and finding it restrictive to their daily life may feel defeated, especially if the acceleration is rapid. But, as in any long drawn ailment, what puts one on the winning side is the acceptance. An acceptance that you may not be able to jump or sprint anymore but you will certainly be able to live a pain-free life that comes as a result of self-discipline. A balance diet, a daily dose of exercise and a strong will! There cannot be a compromise on any of those ingredients. If you accept and implement that, you have defeated pain accompanied with osteoarthritis and moving towards a dignified and healthy life!

#Chronicdisease