Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is another form of arthritis that is both debilitating and painful. When one iVillager suffering the disease asked for advice, fellow members flocked to her aid with their own experiences and remedies

What is it?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, which mainly affects the cartilage tissue that covers the ends of bones and joints. The function of this cartilage tissue is to allow bones to rub over one another smoothly, and to act as shock absorbers from physical movements. Cartilage diseased by osteoarthritis breaks down and wears away, so that the bones rub together, causing friction, which results in pain, swelling and loss of mobility. This can lead to deformation of the joints and osteophytes (small boney projections that grow on the edge of the joints), which can break off and cause even more pain and damage.
ivillage_researcher

What can cause an onset?
I have been suffering from pain in my neck, which I have found is usually triggered either by picking up and carrying my grandson or going out in the evening in high heels. These are not the only triggers, and sometimes I have days with a quite mild pain for no apparent reason. I had an MRI scan done that revealed the problem to be arthritis in the neck. I am now waiting for an appointment for physiotherapy.
lucychangeling

How sufferers cope
My dad suffers from arthritis, and he has cut out all citrus fruit and takes cod liver oil with glucosamine in it, which is supposedly very good for joints. It occurs naturally in the body, but you can take it in capsule form, too. I have also been told that osteopathy helps as well as acupuncture, but both can be costly.
welovemarmite

I, too, have arthritis in my lower back and I never pick my children up - I always sit down and let them climb on my knee to have a cuddle. I don't carry them around either, and I find it is better this way, as it means I stop and give them my full attention. I would only ever pick them up in an absolute emergency. It may be an idea to get some exercises that you can do to strengthen the muscles around your neck. I know that for my back problem I have to strengthen my abdominal muscles. An osteopath can give you excellent advice on how to move and sit. It is thanks to mine that I rarely get any problems.
ellie_washington

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