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Osteoarthritis is a condition that arises when the protective cartilage cushioning the ends of the bone wears down over time. It can damage any joint, but it most commonly affects the joints in the knees, hands, spine, and hips. This condition is the most common form of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a long-term condition that cannot be cured. However, several treatments are available to manage your symptoms and help you move better. Treatment options include medications, knee injections, therapy, and surgery.
Knee injections
For people with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, an artificial joint fluid injection can be an option. The fluid lubricates and cushions the joint so it can move more easily. Your doctor may give you a single-dose injection into your knee joint, or you may need a series of injections.
Corticosteroids Injections
Injections of corticosteroid medications can reduce inflammation, decreasing pain, and swelling in joints. Your doctor will usually give corticosteroids by injection. During corticosteroid injections, the area around your joint is numbed. Then, the doctor places a needle into space within the joint and injects the medication. The number of injections you can receive is usually limited to three or four injections per year.
Therapy
Physical therapy – a physical therapist can work with you to develop an exercise regimen that suits your needs. The exercise regimen can help reduce pain, improve muscle strength, improve balance and gait, and increase the range of motion of the stiff joints. If you need any additional help, physical therapists can also help you learn to use assistive devices, such as braces, splints, and shoe inserts. Also, your physical therapist can show you how to use canes or walkers.
Occupational therapy – an occupational therapist can help you find new ways to do everyday tasks without putting extras stress on your painful joints. For instance, if you have knee osteoarthritis, using a bench in the shower could help relieve the pain of standing.
Surgery
Severe cases of osteoarthritis may need surgery to repair or repair the damaged joints. There are some types of surgery that can be used, including:
Joint replacement – also known as arthroplasty, this procedure involves removing the damaged joint surfaces and replacing them with prosthetic made from metal or plastic. The most common types of joint replacement are knee and hip replacements.
Arthroscopic surgery – during this surgery, damaged or torn cartilage is trimmed from a joint. In some cases, doctors use this procedure to remove bone spurs. The procedure is performed using an arthroscope, which is a small tube with a small camera on its end.
Bone realignment – the type of surgery used to realign bones that are damaged by arthritis is called an osteotomy. In a knee osteotomy, your surgeon makes an incision across the bone either below or above the knee. Then, a wedge of bone is added or removed. This is done to shift your body weight away from the worn-out part of the knee.
Your length of stay in Armenia can vary, depending on the type of treatment you undergo. For knee and corticosteroid injection, you may be able to leave for home the next day. If you have physical and/or occupational therapy, your length of stay depends on how many visits are needed for your case. On average, you may need to stay in Armenia for 4 to 8 weeks for therapy. With surgery, you need to stay in the hospital for 1 to 5 days, and stay at least 7 to 10 more days in the area after you are discharged.
The severity of your osteoarthritis, the type of treatment you have, as well as your age and general health, determines your recovery time. For knee injections, corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, you should be able to return to your normal activities as soon as you feel ready and you when you do not experience any symptoms that interfere with your ability to do daily tasks. With surgeries, you may be able to resume most activities, including work, within 6 weeks. However, it may take around 6 months until you are 100% recovered.
Your doctor should give you detailed aftercare that you will need to follow. If you undergo surgery, the aftercare may include:
Take pain medicine as directed
Rest between activities as needed
Elevate and put cold packs on the affected area
Try home exercise (as recommended by your surgeon).
It is important that you follow the instructions your doctor gives you to help you heal quickly and to avoid further complications.
The success rate varies for each treatment type. Osteoarthritis treatment is known to be highly successful in providing pain relief, keeping mobility, and improving quality of life. However, there are still some side effects and risks you need to be aware of, especially with injections and surgery. These include:
Worsening joint damage
Infections
Blood clots
Wearing out of artificial joints
Limited range of motion in the joint.
Sometimes, lifestyle and home remedies are enough to manage the symptoms of osteoarthritis. You can try low-impact exercise and lose some weight to reduce pain and relieve some pressure. You can also consider movement therapies, assistive devices, and acupuncture as the alternatives to osteoarthritis treatment.
Before osteoarthritis treatment, you may feel pain in the affected joint that prevents you from doing your daily activities and stops you from enjoying the activities you love. After treatment, the pain should be relieved and you should be able to move better.
Whilst the information presented here has been accurately sourced and verified by a medical professional for its accuracy, it is still advised to consult with your doctor before pursuing a medical treatment at one of the listed medical providers
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Armenia has become a premium destination for medical tourism since the hospitals and clinics in the country are staffed with highly qualified professionals. This country has had a long association with medicine. Its 12th-century physician, Mkhitar Heratsi made a great contribution to numerous medical fields. Also, many Armenians helped to invent important medical innovations, such as the MRI machine and PET scan. These facts, coupled with lower costs high-quality healthcare, draw medical tourists from all around the world and most medical tourists come to this country for cosmetic surgery.
Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan, is the largest city in the country as well as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world. This city offers a perfect mix of ancient and modern as century-old buildings sit side by side with modern structures. With outdoor cafes lining its tree-filled boulevard, you can feel the vibrant atmosphere. The second-largest city in Gyumri which is filled with excitement as you will find trendy cafes and nightlife venues that are starting to pop up in the city. You can explore amazing museums, such as the Museum of the Aslamazyan Sisters and the Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life of Gyumri. Another popular place to visit is Dilijan, which is billed as the ‘Switzerland of Armenia.’ This city offers extremely beautiful scenery and pleasant weather.
Zvartnots International Airport is the main international airport in Armenia. This airport serves flights to and from many European and Asian cities, such as Paris, Dubai, Moscow, and Seoul. Since the country is pretty small, there are no domestic flights. Buses and trolleybuses run in cities, while taxis are widely available in city centers. Taxi fares should be negotiated before a journey as taxi drivers tend to overcharge.
Citizens from various countries, including Brazil, Australia, the UK, and the US, can visit and stay in Armenia for up to 180 days. Most other nationalities can apply for a visa on arrival or e-visa. It is best to check with the nearest Armenian embassy or consulate in your area.
December to February are the winter months, with cold temperatures and snowfall in the northern region. Spring, between March and May, is very pleasant with rain showers in March and April. Summer lasts from June to September, characterized by hot temperatures, long and dry days, as well as blue skies. In autumn, the temperatures will become cooler.