Commonly described as ‘wear and tear’ of a joint, it can be a normal part of our ageing process. However, if this degeneration within a joint becomes severe then it can become painful and debilitating. The body produces a large inflammatory process which can cause pain and stiffness within the joint, often worse in the morning. Although it can affect any of our joints, the most common areas are the knee, hip, lower back and neck. It is common to get fluctuations with this condition leading to “good days and bad days”.
It is important to understand that there is a poor relationship between osteoarthritis and pain. Degenerative changes can be seen on scans in even very young people and are inevitable as we age. But we know that these changes are often present without any pain at all. And so having osteoarthritis in a joint does not mean you are going to suffer with pain forever more now.
As physiotherapists we are in a great position to help you with this issue. Physiotherapy for osteoarthritis can include:
- Diagnostic ultrasound scan to determine the severity of the condition
- A bespoke exercise programme tailored to you and your goals
- Acupuncture, including IMS and dry needling
- Joint mobilisations and other manual therapy
- Providing walking aids as needed
- Gait re-education
- Providing appropriate self-management advice regarding exercise and activities of daily living.
An extremely good option for arthritic joints is steroid injections. The use of ultrasound-guided steroid or hyaluronic acid injection is a very effective way of helping to reduce pain and inflammation within the affected joint. Read more our ultrasound-guided injection service here.
If symptoms persist, are severe, or deteriorate significantly, it may be appropriate to refer you to an orthopaedic consultant to discuss the possibility of total joint replacement surgery. Our physiotherapists have excellent professional relationships with many local consultants and would be able to refer you on easily if required.
