Let’s face it, just like any other living being, the human body is made of cells which tend to wear out as we age and as a result, it becomes more vulnerable to chronic conditions like Alzheimer, diabetes and the most common one is osteoarthritis. Although it also affects the young generation, it tends to take a toll on people whose clocks are ticking towards fifty and above more than it does to those who are below that age bracket. Now the question is what is osteoarthritis? On a normal person joints, the cartilage is usually at the end of each bone, and it provides a smooth movement because the joints do not rub on each other directly. In other words, the cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones. Commonly known as degenerative arthritis, or OA, it is a chronic condition caused by the constant wear and tear of the supportive tissue and also the cartilage on major joints, and the result is that these joints tend to become inflamed due to rubbing on each other directly and hence pain to the patient. If not treated with the urgency it deserves it may cause the bones to break down and end up with growths. Fortunately, the health sector has taken major strides in the treatment of osteoarthritis, and it is even treatable. However, before we get to the treatment methods, let’s take a look at some of the symptoms so you can know when to seek help if you are experiencing any of them. Find out below.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
Although they tend to build up over time before they can finally materialize here are the most obvious ones;• Sometimes the joints tend to become stiff, and you are unable to move them well while in other people they become sore especially on the knees, lower back, hips or even sometimes in areas around the fingers. That takes place after long periods of inactivity.• When you bend one of your joints for instance as you stand up after sitting for a long time, they produce a cracking or clicking sound• Pain is the most obvious symptom after the stiffness or soreness• Bony growths around the joint edges. For example, if the bones around your fingers were in shape before they begin to look as if they are protruding• In some people, the joints feel tenderer. This is mostly as a result of the loss of cartilage and the supportive tissue• You no longer feel comfortable moving or doing things which you did effortlessly before
Now that you are familiar with the symptoms, it’s time I give you the various treatments for osteoarthritis. Like mentioned earlier, the major advances in the health sector have made it possible to treat this acute disease, and there is a diverse array of treatment options which you can opt for. However, most of them take effect after a long time while some are extremely effective and not only help you get rid of the pain but also help cure the condition. The treatments below belong in the second category.
Injection therapy.
Injection therapy is a pain reliever for osteoarthritis. Here the doctor injects medication to your painful joint such as the knee by first giving you a shot of anesthetic which causes the area to be numb and then draws out any fluid which causes swelling to that area. That relieves the pain because it eases the pressure on the bone and thus you feel better. Besides reducing your pain, it also speeds up the healing process because now there is nothing to prevent the medication injected from working. Once that is done, the doctor will now give you a shot of the medication. In most cases, the corticosteroid is used. But since the laws of medical marijuana became active, most people who are suffering from osteoarthritis now find it to be more efficient. If you are wondering how medical marijuana acts as a pain reliever for osteoarthritis read on to know how it achieves that.
Medical marijuana as a pain reliever for osteoarthritis
For decades now, medical marijuana has been a topic that sparks off controversy with critics claiming that its legalization will lead to its abuse and the supporters bashing off that argument by bringing in its positive uses. Now that it can be legally used, medical marijuana boasts myriads of health benefits and one of them is a pain reliever for osteoarthritis. Marijuana is made up of two components, CBD and THC but only CBD is used in medical marijuana. According to a recent clinical experiment which was conducted using animals, cannabidiol prides itself on analgesic anti-inflammatory properties which relieve inflammation immediately, and as a result, you get instant relief from your pain. That is one of the ways in which it acts as a pain reliever for osteoarthritis. It is also effective in protecting your joints from encountering any further damage from the osteoarthritis. Moreover, it offers protections to your bones and prevents osteoarthritis from causing further damage to the remaining parts of your bones thus lessens the inflammation, and as a result, the patient not only says goodbye to pain but also to the chronic condition itself.
Additionally, CBD also enhances the growth and maintenance of healthier bones by activating major joint receptors leading to better health of the bone. This way the patient gets to develop healthier joints and supportive tissues which are less prone to degeneration and osteoarthritis as a whole. It is also important to note that you will not need to worry about addiction because
medical marijuana does not utilize THC which is the component that causes addiction. It only makes use of Cannabidiol (CBD), and hence patients are safe.
Types of methods of Cannabis use for osteoarthritis
Although most people prefer to smoke or use vaporizers, doctors claim that the best way to get the most out of it is when you use it is in its tropical form. For instance, through medical marijuana cream balms, salve or even better through direct injection therapies so it can take effect immediately. Besides being a pain reliever for osteoarthritis, CBD is also useful in treating conditions such as psoriasis, eczema among many others.