Health

Is Arthritis Inevitable as I Age?

One of the biggest risk factors for osteoarthritis is aging, especially for arthritis caused by wear and tear. Aging isn’t the direct cause of issues like osteoarthritis, however, and it’s not an inevitable condition. Learn more about arthritis and what treatments are available.

Osteoarthritis: Signs and Causes

Osteoarthritis leads to a deterioration of the cartilage covering the ends of the bones in your joints. Pain and swelling begin as the cartilage wears away, making mobility more difficult.

Signs of osteoarthritis include:

  • Swelling near a joint
  • Stiffness
  • Pain
  • Decrease range of motion
  • Joint deformity

Although the normal wear and tear of aging contributes to the problem, it’s unclear what causes osteoarthritis. Joint injuries, overuse, and even gait issues can lead to it, as can some autoimmune diseases.

Managing Osteoarthritis

Many people think the best option is not to move the joint, but the opposite is true. You want to continue to move, performing physical therapy exercises or other gentle movements your healthcare provider recommends.

An option that can help reduce swelling as well as manage pain is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. PRP therapy uses a sample of your blood, separating its components and concentrating growth factors. By sending more platelets to the damaged joint, PRP therapy jumpstarts your body’s healing process.

PRP therapy is compatible with any other types of osteoarthritis treatments, and because it is created from your blood, you don’t have to worry about allergies or rejections.

Managing Osteoarthritis with Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine is one of the most promising fields of medicine, offering the chance to enhance your body’s natural healing responses so that you can experience less swelling and pain if you’re struggling with osteoarthritis. By relying on some trusted treatments, like platelet-rich therapy, you can get reliable and lasting results.

This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for osteoarthritis, also known as Stem Cell Therapy for Osteoarthritis. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.

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