Whether you have a chronic pain condition or are dealing with infertility, a local acupuncturist can help. Acupuncture is a 3,000-year-old Chinese medicine technique that uses thin needles inserted into various points of the body. People with inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Lyme disease, enteropathic arthritis, gout and ankylosing spondylitis may benefit from working with a local acupuncturist. Some of the other conditions a local acupuncturist can treat include insomnia, depression, back and neck pain, nausea, anxiety, menstrual cramps and migraines. Your local acupuncturist can work with your other healthcare providers such as your local nutritionist or registered dietitian (to help you eat anti-inflammatory foods), family physician, local orthopedic surgeon, cardiologist or psychologist. This will ensure you have a comprehensive treatment and healing plan that’s right for you. If you have an inflammatory condition such as vasculitis or arthritis and think acupuncture might benefit you, talk to your local rheumatologist or local family physician.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. Often affecting people in their 50s and 60s, OA is caused when the cartilage on the ends of the bones wears down. Often, the bones rub against each other, causing pain and swelling.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee Symptoms

Osteoarthritis is most common in the joints of the knees, hips, hands, fingers, neck and spine, although it can affect any joint in the body. OA can even occur in the back, and then it’s also known as degenerative disc disease. Osteoarthritis of the knee symptoms include pain, stiffness and swelling, especially when getting up in the morning. If your OA is severe, you may feel pain for the entire day, or lose your ability to use the joint. OA gets worse over time as the body grows new bone at an attempt to heal the damage. However, this results in bumps of new bone growth around the joint and the breakdown of cartilage.

In addition to age, other risk factors for osteoarthritis of the knee include:

• Being overweight or obese
• Repetitive stress injuries 
• Rheumatoid arthritis 
• Heredity 
• Gender (women) 

Many individuals will not have symptoms. Others will have quite severe symptoms. If you’re diagnosed with osteoarthritis, your physician will likely refer you to a rheumatologist.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee Treatment

The treatment for individuals varies from simple over-the-counter analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents to prescription-strength anti-inflammatory drugs. OA medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections, acetaminophen and pain medications such as opioids. Along with medications to manage your arthritis, lifestyle changes can also help. Before starting off medications, you should consult your Local Acupuncturist to make sure there are no contraindications to you utilizing over-the-counter or prescription-strength analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs. While OA can’t be reversed, it can be effectively treated.

An exercise and stretching program can be great for mobility and flexibility. Your rheumatologist may also recommend that you lose weight to reduce the burden on your joints. Even five or ten pounds of weight loss significantly reduces the strain across a weight-bearing joint, and can improve pain and reduce the need for joint replacement in the future.

Talk to your Local Acupuncturist if you'd like more information on osteoarthritis of the knee. 

Visit HealthChoicesFirst.com for more videos and resources on arthritis.