We often hear seniors telling us that their knee or hip joint feels stiff and sometimes even painful when walking up and down the
stairs. These are common symptoms of a condition called ‘osteoarthritis’.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the
cartilage in your joints gradually
deteriorates. Cartilage is a firm, slippery tissue that allows the joint to
move smoothly.
In osteoarthritis, the slick surface
of the cartilage becomes rough. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down
completely, the ends of the bones rub together and that can cause pain and
swelling of the joint.
Although osteoarthritis can
damage any joint in your body, it most commonly affects joints in
your hands, knees, hips and spine.
Osteoarthritis often gradually
worsens. There are medications to help improve pain and joint function, but
there is currently no cure.
Your doctor may also suggest
staying active and maintaining a healthy weight to help slow down the
progression of osteoarthritis.
"Should I continuously take medication for joint pain?"
If you have pain from osteoarthritis that is
present most of the time, your doctor may recommend that you take medication,
like Tylenol (acetaminophen), regularly. This medication is generally safe and effective
for pain relief in both short- and long-term treatment.
Some patients don’t like to take pain
medications regularly; they prefer to take it only when nothing else works. If
you do wait until the pain becomes unbearable and then you take the pain
medication, be aware that it may take some time for the medication to start working. For some patients,
it might be preferable to take the medication regularly instead of waiting for
the pain to worsen.
Some patients may take anti-inflammatory drugs.
There are many different kinds of anti-inflammatory drugs, including both
prescription and non-prescription ones. It is best to ask your doctor about the
proper use of anti-inflammatory medications for osteoarthritis, as some have
higher risks of causing stomach problems and some may have higher risks of
causing kidney
or cardiovascular problems.
"Are there other treatments beside taking oral medications?"
- Use
heat and cold to manage pain. Both heat and cold can relieve pain in your joint. Heat
also relieves stiffness, and cold can relieve muscle spasms and pain.
- Apply
over-the-counter pain creams. Creams and gels available at drugstores may provide
temporary relief from osteoarthritis pain. Some creams numb the pain by
creating a hot or cool sensation. Other creams contain medications that are
absorbed into your skin. Pain creams work best on joints that are close to the
surface of your skin, such as your knees and fingers.
- Glucosamine and chondroitin Some studies have found benefits for people with
osteoarthritis, while other studies indicate that these supplements do not work. If you feel that the supplement is helping, it is generally safe to continue to use it. Don't use glucosamine if you're allergic to shellfish or if you are taking blood thinners such as warfarin.
- Physical
therapy. A physical
therapist can work with you to create an individualized exercise program that
will strengthen the muscles around your joint, increase your range of motion
and reduce pain.
- Braces
or shoe inserts. Your doctor may
recommend shoe inserts or other devices that can help reduce pain when you
stand or walk. These devices can immobilize or support your joint to help take
pressure off it.
Surgical and other
procedures:
- Injections - Injections of
corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid may relieve pain in your joint.
- Surgery - such as osteotomy to realign bones or joint replacement may also relieve pain in your joint.
If you have further questions about your osteoarthritis pain
treatment, come and talk to one of our pharmacists.
TIPS FROM REGISTERED DIETITIAN – ROWENA LEUNG
As the
temperature becomes cooler, it’s very important to remember to take your
probiotics! Probiotics are the good bacteria in our gut that help boost our
immune system and improve our digestive system. Generally, a healthy individual
requires anywhere between 15-50 billion strains of probiotic bacteria/day to
maintain a healthy gut. Some individuals require higher doses of probiotics due
to disease conditions; however, advice from a health care professional is
advised if one is considering doses higher than 50 billion strains of
probiotics/day. Where can probiotics be found?
Food sources include:
1.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a source of probiotics; however, it
is generally not a high source of probiotics. Yogurt generally has just under 1
billion strains of probiotic bacteria. Not all yogurt is created the same. Try
to buy the plain flavour yogurt as it has no added sugar. If you choose to buy
a flavoured yogurt, remember that a woman is allowed up to 6 added teaspoons of
sugar/day and a man is allowed up to 9 added teaspoons of sugar/day. (Tip: 1
teaspoon of sugar= 4 grams of carbohydrate)
2. Kefir
Kefir is a fermented milk product . Some
individuals choose to drink this as a milk alternative. It is a great source of
calcium and a great source of probiotics. Every tablespoon of Kefir has ~5
billion strains of probiotic bacteria.
You can buy Kefir in a drinkable version or in a version where you add a
certain amount to the food you are eating (e.g. add on top of oatmeal, your
current yogurt choice, rice, quinoa, etc).
3. Miso
Having a
little miso soup from time to time is not a bad idea If blood pressure is not
an issue.
4. Kimchi
Similarly
to miso, having a side dish of kimchi is not a bad idea if blood pressure is
not an issue.
5. Natto
beans
Although
the taste is generally acquired, natto beans are packed with nutrition and is a
very good option to get your probiotic bacteria.
6. Kombucha
tea
For those that like to drink juice, a better alternative may be kombucha tea.
This type of drink is packed with probiotic bacteria but depending on the
brand, the amount of added sugar may be frowned upon.
For some
individuals, these food choices are not suitable; therefore, you can speak to
Maggie and her team of pharmacists about the different options of probiotic
supplements.
Here’s a recipe that incorporates a source of
probiotic into a healthy and delicious snack.
Almond Butter and
Pumpkin Bread
Yield: 1 5x9 loaf
Ingredients:
1.25 c whole
wheat flour (sprouted)
¼ c flaxseed
(ground)
1 ¼ tsp baking
soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon,
ground
½ tsp nutmeg,
ground
1 large egg
½ c honey**
2 Tbsp All
Natural Almond Butter
1 c Pumpkin
puree
½ c 0%
M.F. Plain Greek Yogurt
Instructions:
- Preheat
oven @ 350 degrees F.
- Grease
loaf pan and line with parchment paper.
- In
a large bowl, stir together flour, wheat bran, baking soda, salt, cinnamon
and nutmeg
- In
a medium bowl, beat the egg and honey with a fork. Add the almond butter,
pumpkin and yogurt until well blended. Add to the dry ingredients and mix
until just incorporated.
- Bake
for 50-60 minutes or until the tops are cracked. A toothpick should come
out clean when inserted into the middle.
**Please note that the amount of honey has already reduce by
half when compared to the original recipe**
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Flu vaccines are now available at CUSTOM CARE PHARMACY!
Come in today to get your flu shot! 905-305-0111
預防勝于治療。該規則同樣適用於摔傷。您可以通過做練習來加強你的大腿肌肉，通過提高你的平衡能力來降低跌倒的縫隙（如：打太極拳是一個行之有效的運動，以改善身體的平衡能力），通過使用適當的援助（例如：舒適的防滑鞋，手杖，每年矯正視力），通過調整你的藥物，以防止眩暈和/或低血壓;最後，保持均衡的營養，從膳食中攝入足夠的鈣。”
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