Dr Tarandeep Singh Gill — MS Ortho, MCh Ortho
Director – Joint Replacement & Robotic Surgery · RoboLens FT3D Pioneer · Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali
Osteoarthritis causes the breakdown of cartilage covering the ends of bones. This results in pain and stiffness of the joints. This condition may eventually cause disability. Initially, the symptoms of osteoarthritis occur while performing strenuous activities and subsidize at rest. Gradually, the symptoms become evident while at rest and activity.
Osteoarthritis Treatment Chandigarh reduces symptoms of this condition and improves quality of life.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
It is important to recognize different forms of Osteoarthritis Treatment Chandigarh because they affect quality of life in different ways. For instance, hip osteoarthritis causes difficulties while walking, and knee osteoarthritis causes problems while climbing/descending stairs.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis may vary. Some people may not have osteoarthritis symptoms for years. In the later stages, symptoms may occur at rest, and worsen while moving about.
Pain may be alleviated at rest but becomes evident while performing activities. Other symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- Stiffness of joints: Especially in the morning and after periods of inactivity.
- Swelling and enlargement of joints: Usually occurs with hip osteoarthritis.
- Loss of joint function.
Osteoarthritis may cause disability in some cases.
Undiagnosed or untreated Osteoarthritis negatively impacts a person’s ability to work or take part in social activities. It can affect a person’s hobbies or other interests. It can affect a person’s independence, and it can even affect a person’s ability to perform household tasks. People with Osteoarthritis often have disturbed or restless sleep because of pain and discomfort.
Because of all of these reasons, it is important that Osteoarthritis is diagnosed as early as possible. Treatment for Osteoarthritis helps in providing symptom relief and improves a patient’s normal functioning. Pain relief is not the sole focus of treatment for Osteoarthritis.
Diagnosing Osteoarthritis
In order to Osteoarthritis Treatment Chandigarh its cause and its severity has to be assessed. This is typically done by a specialist in orthopedics. Assessing these requires reviewing a patient’s medical history, and current or past injuries. It also requires evaluating what types of activities a patient is able to perform, and what types of activities a patient is limited from performing.
Various tests may be done to assist in assessment and diagnosis of Osteoarthritis. These may include X-Rays or other imaging tests.
Once Osteoarthritis has been diagnosed, a treatment plan is developed by the specialist to address and manage the patient’s Osteoarthritis.
Non-surgical Treatment for Osteoarthritis
There are a number of Osteoarthritis Treatment Chandigarh options available for Osteoarthritis that do not require surgery. Some of these may include: Physical Therapy; Exercise and Weight Management.
Activity Modification
Patients will be instructed to adjust their activities to alleviate their symptoms. If this indicates low-impact activities, these will be specified.
Medications
Depending on symptoms and the patient’s condition, the prescribing physician may suggest the use of pain-relieving or other medications with an anti-inflammatory action. These medicines should be taken only as suggested by the physician.
When Are Other Interventional Procedures Indicated?
In the absence of adequate relief with conservative measures, a health care practitioner may suggest advanced interventional procedures and/or injection therapies to the patient. The success and limitation of these procedures differ from patient to patient and should be discussed with the health care practitioner.
When Is Surgery Indicated?
Surgery is considered when the symptoms of osteoarthritis increase and affect the patient’s quality of life as well as restrict and limit the patient’s movements.
Joint replacement surgery, partial or total, is considered when the joints become deformed and damaged. Other joint-saving and -preserving surgeries are also an option.
Joint replacement surgery is suggested to the patient when symptoms of joint pain increase and other non-surgical treatments do not bring any relief.
Other Advances In The Field of Osteoarthritis
Knee replacement surgery has also improved with the integration of new technology and materials. Along with new prosthesis materials and joint replacements, improvement in computer science has enabled the usage of computer-assisted surgeries in the field of orthopedics. Selected patients may also benefit from surgeries performed with the help of robotic-assisted technology.
While innovations in digital and robotic technologies can facilitate certain stages of pre-operative planning and execution of surgical procedures, they do not perform surgery.
If you are looking into options for treatment of Osteoarthritis in Chandigarh, you should discuss with your specialist the options available and the rationale for his/her recommendations.
The Role of Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is as important for a surgical intervention as it is for a conservative treatment. It focuses on maintaining the joints’ range of motion and overall function.
To this end, physiotherapy and rehabilitation help patients improve their muscle strength and joints’ flexibility and function, and thus facilitate performance of daily activities.
Patients should stop doing anything that causes additional stress to their joints.
Selecting the Best Orthopaedic Specialist
You should decide on your own the best specialist who is most competent and experienced to manage your Osteoarthritis. Your chosen specialist should be able to provide you with the right diagnosis, devise an effective management plan and provide best possible facilities, support and care during your stay in the hospital. He/she should also provide adequate rehabilitation care.
Good communication is important for patients, and your doctor should talk to you about your diagnosis and other important details.
No treatment should be taken for granted. If you do not understand the reasons for a recommended treatment, it is appropriate for you to seek another doctor for a different opinion.
Conclusion
The effects of Osteoarthritis is the gradual loss of mobility and a decrease in quality of life. Fortunately, the goals of treating Osteoarthritis is to enable patients to retain mobility and quality of life by preventing further loss. There are numerous Osteoarthritis Treatment Chandigarh which include exercises and medication to more invasive treatments such as surgery.
If you are experiencing a loss of mobility and quality of life due to joint pain and stiffness, the best person to talk to is an Knee pain doctor Mohali who specializes in . Only an experienced Osteoarthritis Treatment Chandigarh will be able to evaluate your condition and provide you the best treatment to help restore your quality of life.
