What is Osteoarthritis?
Being one of the most common kinds of arthritis, Osteoarthritis affects the older population. It is also known as degenerative joint disease or simply degenerative arthritis. It means that the joint area in the body begins to degenerate with age, especially the cartilage area and the bones.
Cartilage is the material which acts as a cushion cover to the end of the bones so that friction between two bones is reduced. Bones are glided over each other with the help of a healthy cartilage but people who are suffering from this disease will probably have this layer of healthy cartilage break away which causes the bines to rub with each other and that can cause swelling, pain, and lose of the shape of the joint.
The disorder often affects the hips, feet, knees, shoulders and any other joint in the body.
What are the Symptoms of this Disease?
The symptoms mainly occur due to the cartilage wearing off around the bones. They are:
- Join pain
- Locking
- Stiffness while movement
- Tenderness
- Effusion
- Redness
- Ligaments may lax
- Loss of movement
- Weakness in muscles
- Swelling
- Deformation of joints
- Cracking sounds
It is mostly found in people who are higher in age but it can occur in individuals aged 25 and above. It is also more common in women who are aged 45 years and above. It can cause impairment in daily functioning, it can progress suddenly and for some, it gradually affects them over time. It can also cause a lot of pain if left untreated.
Stem Cells and Osteoarthritis?
Stem cells are those cells in our body that have the ability to rebuild and rejuvenate themselves in any part of the body. There are 4 kinds of stem cells and there is in-depth research considering the effectiveness of stem cells as a way of treatment for arthritis.
The use of stem cells for any kind of treatment is an area of wide discussion and debate. But, stem cell therapy has known to be very effective in treating this particular disorder, when tested in animals with different forms of arthritis. Stem cells can work by developing healthy cartilage cells, reducing an area of inflammation and by slowing down the cartilage degeneration. Osteoarthritis stem cell therapy in India is up and coming in many hospitals, all over the country.
The treatment can vary depending on the doctor and the severity of the problem. The doctor’s experience in the field should be known, the process of what stem cells are known should be clear, the risks and complications these kinds of surgeries can result in should be understood before the patient decides to jumps into this option of treatment.
These are some of the important things that you need to know about Osteoarthritis and its relation to stem cell therapy. You must ensure you consult the right kind of doctor with issues related to arthritis and conduct a well-informed research if he or she refers to stem cell therapy as an option.