For the older population, osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and unpleasant ailment. Osteoarthritis occurs when joint cartilage breaks down and wears away. Joint cartilage is the rubber-like material that covers bones and acts as a shock absorber. When the joints break down in this manner, pain sets in. OA can affect any joint (knuckles, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, etc.) but it can also cause several problems with back and neck pain. However, there are a handful of pain management techniques you can integrate into your daily routine to help….

1. For temporary relief, over-the-counter pain medications may be taken to manage pain; however, if you plan on receiving treatment or are undergoing treatment, we will prescribe the appropriate medication or consult with you on which medication is compatible with your procedure. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided as they blunt treatment and hinder results.
2. Osteoarthritis sufferers may also find relief with topical treatments. Creams, rubs, or sprays can be applied to the knees, shoulders, elbows, or any affected joint to help relieve the pain.
3. If you’re a fitness mogul, you’ll be glad to know that exercise helps with the way that the joints move, especially improving back pain symptoms. Low-impact exercises such as walking or swimming are ideal as they do not put stress on the joints. If activity causes further pain or hurts, be cautioned to stay away.
4. Maintaining a healthy body weight puts less stress on the joints. When you carry excess weight, your body has to work hard to support itself, therefore joints tend to hurt more. Even if a few pounds are shed, you’ll begin to notice a difference.
5. Hot or cold compression is also often used to help with OA pain. Hot or cool showers or baths are one delivery option. Electric heating pads and cold pack compresses are another.
6. Dietary supplements have been shown to help some patients with OA. Though more research is needed, glucosamine and chondroitin, SAMe, and other dietary supplements have demonstrated to be helpful. In fact, SAMe has been shown, in some studies, to be more effective than prescription anti-inflammatory medicines.

These are a few tips that you can implement into your daily life to manage your osteoarthritis pain. However, if you’re tired of dealing with constant and unyielding chronic pain, then you’ll be glad to know that osteoarthritis sufferers have found relief through stem cell therapy.

By obtaining the patient’s own cells or sourcing them from a donated resource, we can harness the body’s natural regenerative abilities to reinvigorate the degenerating joints. The stem cells can rebuild damaged tissue and reduce inflammation, alleviating joint, neck or back pain.

Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for osteoarthritis sufferers. So if you are experiencing neck, back, hip or knee pain from osteoarthritis, call for an appointment today at 732-548-2000.

At Stem Cell Center of New Jersey, we offer regenerative therapies including stem cell, exosomes, and other sources of growth factors to regenerate healthy tissue. Contact us today to schedule a one on one consultation, or to join us at one of our informative lectures to learn more about the potential of stem cell therapy.