What do you need to know about arthritis treatment in the Philippines?
- The treatment will depend on the condition of the patient
- Physical therapy
- Prolozone therapy
- Medications
- Surgery
May National Arthritis Awareness Month. According to WHO statistics, the disease reached approximately a 0.44 death rate per 100,000 of the population. Rather than a single condition, arthritis is an umbrella term used to describe multiple conditions that cause joint pain including osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and more than 100 other health issues. To help shed some light on arthritis and what friends and family can do to help support their affected loved ones, we are here to tell you all about arthritis treatment in the Philippines.
When it comes to arthritis, we cannot stress enough the importance of proper education as there are many misconceptions about the disease. Only then can Las Pinas doctors provide effective treatments to patients and help bring back functional mobility for daily living. In this guide, we round up the forms of arthritis, the causes and symptoms of arthritis, how arthritis is diagnosed, and the best arthritis treatment in the Philippines. Continue reading to learn more about them.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis refers to the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. Its main symptoms are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. Contrary to popular belief, arthritis does not only affect the elderly. It is a condition that can occur at any age, even infants as young as 1-year-old. Two-thirds of people with arthritis are under age 65, however, the risk increases with age.
The specific diagnosis of arthritis depends on how and why the swelling occurs and therefore, it can take many different forms. These are the three major forms of arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis – This is the most common form of arthritis which is characterized by stiffened and brittle cartilage at the ends of joints. As the cartilage continues to degenerate, swelling around the tendons and ligaments surrounding the joints occur and osteophytes grow. The result is a painful joint, with bones forcing themselves out of proper positions.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis – This is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes an inflammatory reaction from the synovium of the joints or outermost lining. Eventually, this causes both cartilage and bone to deteriorate. The joint damage that rheumatoid arthritis causes usually happens on both sides of the body.
How Is Arthritis Diagnosed?
It is not unusual to experience joint aches and pains. However, when the pain does not subside, interferes with daily tasks, or steadily gets worse, it would be best to seek the help of a Las Pinas medical center.
When you schedule a checkup at Perpetual Help Medical Center-Las Pinas, your doctor will gather all the needed information to diagnose if you have arthritis. You will be asked about your medical history. Your attending physician will also conduct physical exams such as moving the joints to see your range of motion. Afterward, you may be asked to undergo tests. This could be an X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, nerve tests, or blood tests. Then, the proper treatments may be recommended.
The Treatment Will Depend On The Condition Of The Patient
Arthritis treatment in the Philippines and other countries worldwide focuses on relieving symptoms and improving joint function. There is no specific treatment for all forms of arthritis. You may need to combine several treatment methods before determining what works best for your condition.
Every case of arthritis requires having an integrated treatment plan tailor to the patient’s symptoms and medical history. This can be composed of medication, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgical interventions.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy (PT) can be helpful for some types of arthritis. The exercises and recreational activities advised by licensed physical therapists can help improve your range of motion, strengthen the muscles surrounding the joints, and maintain fitness.
Physical therapy focuses on regaining the body’s ability to engage in movements to perform daily activities. The movements can be anything from walking, climbing stairs, or playing sports.
A physical therapist can also help with making activities easier such as avoiding positions that strain the joints and providing braces to support joints.
Prolozone Therapy
Prolozone therapy combines the principles of neural therapy, prolotherapy, and ozone therapy. This medical procedure involves a non-surgical injection-based treatment that is often used to address certain chronic and degenerative diseases, including arthritis symptoms. It re-oxides the human body and activates healing within the body.
Medications
Most patients diagnosed with arthritis have to take some type of medication. The medications typically fall into five categories: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); steroids; disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs); biologics; and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.
Surgery
If conservative measures don’t help, your doctor may suggest surgery to reduce pain from arthritis or to restore mobility and joint function such as the following:
- Joint repair – In some cases, damaged joint surfaces can be repaired to reduce pain and improve function. This procedure can often be performed through small incisions over the joint.
- Joint replacement – This procedure removes damaged joints and replaces them with an artificial one. Joints most commonly replaced are hips and knees using stainless steel, plastic, or ceramic materials.
- Joint fusion – This procedure is often used for smaller joints such as those in wrists, ankles, and fingers. It removes the ends of the bones and locks them together until they heal into one stabilized unit.
Key Takeaway
In this article, we have rounded up some of the vital medical information about arthritis and options for arthritis treatment in the Philippines. As part of the National Arthritis Awareness Month, we are here to tell you that getting diagnosed is vital to determine the proper treatment for bringing back a patient’s mobility.
Here at Perpetual Help Medical Center-Las Pinas, we believe that every patient should be given proper arthritis treatment in the Philippines. Click here to inquire about the different treatments we offer or visit us at Alabang-Zapote Rd., Pamplona III Las Pinas City, Philippines 1740.