Strong Options For Treating Osteoarthritis

Playing Pickleball

While it may appear to be counterintuitive, sometimes sports can help many patients with osteoarthritis. While it may not be smart to join incredibly demanding sports, playing pickleball, a little known sport, has been shown to be quite helpful for osteoarthritis. Pickleball is becoming more popular among older individuals because it promotes being physically fit while only being lightly demanding. In pickleball, players use racquets to hit a ball over a net, similar to tennis. The racquet is helpful for individuals who have osteoarthritis in the hands, elbows, or wrists. The game does not require a lot of running, but it promotes balance and agility. Pickleball also helps improve hand-eye coordination while building stamina and improving cardiovascular help. The sport can also help individuals recover after joint replacement surgery.

Cortisone Injections

Cortisone is a hormone released by the adrenal glands during the body's stress response. It has a widespread effect on the body by reducing pain. It does this by reducing inflammation. Cortisone injections use synthetic cortisone to achieve this same effect in a local area. In the case of osteoarthritis, the hormone is injected into the affected joint. The treatment is incredibly effective at relieving pain, but it does not last forever. This means, every once in a while, the patient must return for another cortisone treatment. Long-term use of cortisone treatment, however, can lead to serious side effects. Some patients flare up in response to injections, diabetes patients may experience an increase in blood glucose levels, and some individuals develop infections at the site of the injections. Individuals who use cortisone for a long time can cause damage to the body's soft tissues, and they may develop Cushing's syndrome, which results in many serious medical problems. Still, for those who use these injections sporadically, the treatment can be incredibly beneficial.