Is osteoarthritis and osteoporosis something just women get?

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I am wondering if there is a "best", or most effective supplement that can be obtained over the counter for help with control of the effects that this condition has on the hip and legs? Can men get this disease, and if so, can liquid calcium and glucosemine supplement help? I was trying to find something I could get for my husband that might work. Thanks to all who answer.
Men definitely get these illnesses. Calcium supplements with Vitamin D will help with the osteoporosis for anyone and if that is not enough a physician can assist with medication. Osteoarthritis is the common form of arthritis, as opposed to rheumatoid arthritis which eventually causes deformity in joints and is quite debilitating. The previous is usually caused by normal wear and tear on joints, especially weight bearing joints such as hips, and knees, although hands and fingers are also quite prone to the disease.

Glucosamine - chondroitin (may be spelled differently) can make a difference and weight control also serves to lessen stress on joints. There are many prescription medications which help with this condition as well.

Good luck.  (+ info)

losing weight have a bad back and osteoarthritis in my knees. What are some good painess exercises?

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I have already lost 55 pounds without exercise. But I need some exercise that doesn't put me in pain for a week before I can exercise again. My back hurts when I run on me tread mill and my knees hurt severly after exercises.
Swimming and water aerobics would be perfect for you. Look at the Y or a local swim club they usually have classes. Also, you don't sweat in a pool which to me is a huge plus. There's only one good reason to get sweaty and exercise isn't it.  (+ info)

How frequent should you have xrays for osteoarthritis; what new treatments or alternative treatments are there?

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In particular in the knees and does anyone have it in their ankles?
OA can affect any joint in the body. X rays should generally be avoided unless they will affect management, ie when a knee or hip replacement is contemplated. Pain relief and physiotherapy/exercise remain the mainstay of treatment, with surgical intervention if joint destruction is severe.

Homeopathy and acupuncture make no useful contribution, (to anything!)  (+ info)

Any good suggestions on how to alleviate osteoarthritis pain?

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For example - I know someone who has osteoatthritis and joint pain, some due to Lupus. I heard Glucosamine Chondroitin is good? Anything else? (traditional or alternative means - or home remedies )
take asprin reguraly , or advil to help with the pain. also apply aspercream often to the most painful places.use real warm towels to soak on the skin for 20 minutes 4 times daily. try walking some everyday--if possible. also take vitiman D everyday. drink fluids reguraly and eat foods rich in niacin and magnesium. good luck.  (+ info)

Can I get ssi for Osteoarthritis in both knees?

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I had xrays done for both of my knees and the dr says I have
Osteoarthritis in both of my knees. I am 32 years old. And was wondering if I could get ssi.
I did have a job for 2 years sitting at a computer and thats when I started to notice the pain in my knees. So no I don't think I could get a sit down job. I am not trying to use tax payors dollars, its hard for me to walk, not to mention go to work!
Many people are on SSI for advanced knee OA. However, the approval process if very lengthy and you have to prove that you are completely unemployable even with job retraining. You have to be limited enough that you would have great difficulty making it in and out of a building from a handicapped entrace, or are unable to sit for long periods of time (as well as unable to stand), and that reasonable accomodations are not beneficial

. Especially considering your age, this will be a very difficulty case to prove and you have to be significantly impaired to do so.

What can be frustrating for many is that most surgeons will not do a knee replacement on someone so young, yet proving disability will also be a signficant challenge. So many in that "inbetween stage" wind up on public aid...and again, most surgeons are unwilling to do surgery on patients on public aid, so then it takes years to prove disability and then two more years to be approved for medicare...by this time you may be approrpiate for a knee replacement, and they you may become totally employable again. It's such a viscious cycle...try not to get caught up in it.  (+ info)

What's the difference between "inflammatory arthritis" and "inflammatory osteoarthritis"?

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Are they the same thing?
inflammatory osteoarthritis is in the bones whereas inflammatory arthritis is not.

I am 41 and have just been diagnosed with it in the head (skull) It is extremely painful and down my spine to my sacro illiac., in fact both are terrilble to have
If you are suffering from any of these I wish you the very best.  (+ info)

How does Osteoarthritis affect my health insurance premiums?

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Can I get an individual plan in the future if I am diagnosed with this illness?
Osteoarthritis is a fairly common condition covered by nearly all medical plans. The drug Fosamax, one of the most common courses of medication therapy in Osteoarthritis, will be going generic within the next six months and will thus lower the prices associated with this.  (+ info)

What are the options for a senior who has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis?

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Is it possible to live with it?, overcome it? Stay on painkillers the rest of your life? Live in a wheel chair?
One of the most recommended things for patients with osteoarthritis is that they remain active. Even if they just take a walk or go swimming. Add a heat pack to the affected areas before excercise and a cold pack afterwards.

The other thing is that the person get a good amount of rest.

If the person is overweight, weight loss will slow down the progression of the osteoarthritis.

Depending on the affected joints, a brace or a walker can help aid comfort and support.

Also watch for signs of depression because coping with the pain can be difficult and result in depression. Maintain a support group with other OA sufferers and keep a positive attitude.

Also ask your doctor about if taking glucosamine orally is right for you.  (+ info)

Is degenerative joint disease the same as osteoarthritis?

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I've just been diagnosed with degenerative joint disease. I'm only 46 and I've been dealing with this pain for at least 15 years. Is it common for someone as young as me to have severe degenerative joint disease?
Degenerate joint disease (DJD) and osteoarthritis are the same thing.

DJD is a progressive disease that takes time to occur. While it more commonly occurs in older people, it's not restricted to older people, it can occur in very young people as well. I've treated patients as young as in their 20's for severe DJD.

Like a sagging door that's not properly attached to it's hinges or a sliding panel that's not fully on it's tracks, it can wear out at the edges if not corrected right away. The longer it's not corrected, the more wear occurs. That's what's happening in your case, you need to correct the misalignment in your joint before you completely wear it out. I refer my DJD patients to a specially trained chiropractor who does a thorough examination to see where the problem is and correct it for good. I recommend you give them a try before it's too late and you're forced to have surgery for joint replacement.

http://www.gonsteadseminar.com/referral.aspx
  (+ info)

What exercises would you recommend for suffers of Osteoarthritis?

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Specifically for problems with knees and ankles. Jogging and cycling are not options right now but is there something to build up the muscles around the joint so that they may be again?
Thank you for all your answers so far.

Just to clarify:
I realise that it is due to worn away cartelidge however until it is completely worn away it appears that with weight loss and certain forms of excercise you can significantly delay the need for surgery. I am interested in which forms of excercise work best.
Treatment
Since OA is the result of irreversible worn-out cartilage, the goal of treatment is to reduce the joint pain while at the same time, improving and maintaining the function of the joint.

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Coping skills and lifestyle changes
No matter what the severity, or where the OA lies, conservative measures, such as weight control, appropriate rest and exercise, and the use of mechanical support devices are usually beneficial to sufferers. In the case of OA of the knees, knee braces, a cane, or a walker can be a helpful aid for walking and support. Regular exercise, if possible, in the form of walking or swimming, is encouraged. Applying local heat before, and cold packs after exercise, can help relieve pain and inflammation, as do relaxation techniques. Weight loss can delay progression. As such, the proper advice and guidance by a physiotherapist go a long way in OA management, enabling sufferers to get back closer to their previous routine.

Dealing with chronic pain can be difficult and result in depression. Communicating with other OA sufferers is helpful, as is maintaining a positive attitude. People who take control of their treatment, communicate with their doctor, and actively manage their arthritis experience suffer less pain and function better.

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Dietary
Most physicians recommend the oral intake of glucosamine. Glucosamine is a natural substance found in almost all tissues in the body, and is involved in the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans, the main ingredient of the synovial fluid (a fluid that fills the space between joints) and cartilage. Glucosamine is not found in food sources, but is produced naturally by the body, and if for some reasons, the body does not produce it, it would probably lead to the development of OA.

Supplements which may be useful for treating OA include:

Antioxidants, including vitamins C and E in both foods and supplements, provide pain relief from OA. (McAlindon TE, et al, 1996).
Chondroitin sulphate improves symptoms of OA, and delays its progression (Poolsup N et al, 2005).
Collagen hydrolysate (a gelatin product) may also prove beneficial in the relief of OA symptoms, as substantiated in a German study by Beuker F. et. al. and Seeligmuller et. al. In their 6-month placebo-controlled study of 100 elderly patients, the verum group showed significant improvement in joint mobility.
Ginger (rhizome) extract - has improved knee symptoms moderately (Altman RD, 1991).
Glucosamine has also been shown to improve symptoms of OA, and to delay its progression (Poolsup N et al, 2005). However, recent evidence shows that glucosamine is not effective in reversing OA of the knee (McAlindon et al 2004).
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): after several reports that MSM helped arthritis in animal models, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study suggested that 1500 mg per day MSM (alone or in combination with glucosamine sulfate) was helpful in relieving symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (Usha and Naidu 2004). Kim et al. then conducted a double-blind clinical trial of MSM for treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Twenty-five patients took 6 g/day MSM and 25 patients took a placebo for 12 weeks. Ten patients did not complete the study, and intent-to-treat analysis was performed. Patients who took MSM had significantly reduced pain and improved physical functioning, without major adverse events (Kim et al). No evidence of a more general anti-inflammatory effect was found, as there were no significant changes in two measures of systemic inflammation: C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The authors cautioned that this short pilot study did not address the long-term safety and usefulness of MSM, but suggested that physicians should consider its use for certain osteoarthritis patients, and that long-term studies should be conducted (Kim et al. 2006).
Omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil supplements reduces both the "degradative and inflammatory aspects of chondrocyte metabolism." (Curtis CL, 2002)
S-adenosyl methionine: small scale studies have shown it to be as effective as NSAIDs in reducing pain, although it takes about four weeks for the effect to take place.
Selenium in low levels has been correlated with a higher risk and severity of OA, therefore selenium supplementation may reduce this risk [2].
vitamins B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin) taken in large doses significantly reduced OA hand pain, presumbably by reducing systemic inflammation (Flynn MA 1994).
Vitamin D deficiency has been reported in patients with OA, and supplementation with Vitamin D3 is recommended for pain relief (Arabelovic, 2005).
Other nutritional changes shown to promote the treatment of OA include elevated saturated fat intake (Wilhelmi G, 1993) and elevated body fat (Christensen R, 2005). Lifestyle change may be needed for effective symptomatic relief, especially for knee OA (De Filippis L, 2004).

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Systemic treatment
Included in the medication regime for most cases, a mild pain reliever may be sufficiently efficacious. In more severe cases, NSAIDs are usually prescribed which can reduce both the pain and inflammation quite effectively. These include medications such as diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen. High doses are often required. All NSAIDs act by inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins, which play a central role in inflammation and pain. However, these drugs are rather taxing on the gastrointestinal tract, and may cause stomach upset, cramping diarrhoea, and peptic ulcer.

Another type of NSAID, COX-2 selective inhibitors (such as celecoxib, and the withdrawn rofecoxib and valdecoxib) reduce this risk substantially. These latter NSAIDs carry an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, and some have now been withdrawn from the market. Another medication, acetaminophen (paracetamol), is commonly used to treat the pain from OA, although unlike NSAID's acetaminophen does not treat the inflammation. Application of heat — often moist heat — eases inflammation and swelling in the joints, and can help improve circulation, which has a healing effect on the local area.

Most doctors nowadays are loath to use steroids in the treatment of OA as their effect is modest and the adverse effects may outweigh the benefits.

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Topical
"Topical treatments" are treatments designed for local application and action. Some NSAIDs are available for topical use (e.g. ibuprofen) and may improve symptoms without having systemic side-effects.

Creams and lotions, containing capsaicin, are effective in treating pain associated with OA if they are applied with sufficient frequency.

Severe pain in specific joints can be treated with local lidocaine injections or similar local anaesthetics, and glucocorticoids (such as hydrocortisone). Corticosteroids (cortisone and similar agents) may temporarily reduce the pain.

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Surgery
If the above management is ineffective, surgery (joint replacement) may be required. Individuals with very painful OA joints may require surgery such as fragment removal, repositioning bones, or fusing bone to increase stability and reduce pain. For severe pain, narcotic pain relievers such as tramadol, and eventually opioids (hydrocodone, oxycodone or morphine) may be necessary; these should be reserved for very severe cases, and are rarely medically necessary for chronic pain.

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Other approaches
There are various other modalities in use for osteoarthritis:

Low level laser therapy ; this is a light wave based treatment that may reduce pain. The treatment is painless, inexpensive and without risks or side effects. Unfortunately, it may not actually have any real benefits.[3].
Prolotherapy (proliferative therapy); this is the injection of an irritant substance (such as dextrose) to create an acute inflammatory reaction. It is claimed to strengthen and heal damaged tissues including ligaments, tendons and cartilage as part of this reaction. The injection is painful (like corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid) and may cause an increase in pain for a few days afterwards. The only other significant risk is the rare possibility of infection.
Radiosynoviorthesis: A radioactive isotope (a beta-ray emitter with a brief half-life) is injected into the joint to soften the tissue. Due to the involvement of radioactive material, this is an elaborate and costly procedure, but it has a success rate of around 80%.  (+ info)

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