Late-stage symptoms of osteoarthritis

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on March 31, 2025
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In clinical settings, the symptoms of late-stage osteoarthritis are primarily characterized by severe joint swelling and pain, and the joints are prone to deformity, which affects the patient's ability to work or carry on with daily activities. For late-stage osteoarthritis, surgical intervention is often necessary. It requires thorough preoperative examinations to rule out surgical contraindications, followed by prosthetic joint replacement surgery. Postoperatively, it is crucial to actively manage the surgical site by changing dressings and disinfecting to prevent infection, typically every two to three days. Additionally, anticoagulant medications are needed to prevent the occurrence of thrombosis.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
54sec home-news-image

Is moxibustion okay for osteoarthritis?

Moxibustion for osteoarthritis is feasible; it can alleviate local symptoms of pain and swelling in osteoarthritis. Currently, there are two methods of treatment for osteoarthritis: The first is conservative treatment, which includes physical therapy, rehabilitation, moxibustion, acupuncture, oral medication, and injections of sodium hyaluronate, all of which can relieve symptoms of joint pain, swelling, and discomfort during movement. The second method is surgical treatment, which is considered when conservative treatment is ineffective, or when symptoms worsen after conservative treatment. Presently, there are two approaches to surgical treatment: The first involves arthroscopic minimally invasive cleaning of the joint, followed by further cleaning of the meniscus and synovium; the second method is joint replacement, with total knee replacement being the most common.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Late-stage symptoms of osteoarthritis

In clinical settings, the symptoms of late-stage osteoarthritis are primarily characterized by severe joint swelling and pain, and the joints are prone to deformity, which affects the patient's ability to work or carry on with daily activities. For late-stage osteoarthritis, surgical intervention is often necessary. It requires thorough preoperative examinations to rule out surgical contraindications, followed by prosthetic joint replacement surgery. Postoperatively, it is crucial to actively manage the surgical site by changing dressings and disinfecting to prevent infection, typically every two to three days. Additionally, anticoagulant medications are needed to prevent the occurrence of thrombosis.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
47sec home-news-image

Difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis

Osteoarthritis and arthritis are different. Firstly, osteoarthritis refers to degenerative changes in the joints, mainly caused by aging and chronic strain, leading to damage to the joint cartilage. This results in symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, and limited mobility, which are characteristics of osteoarthritis. The scope of arthritis, however, is broader. Depending on the cause, arthritis can be divided into many types, including osteoarthritis, which is a type of arthritis. Other types include septic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gouty arthritis. Therefore, there is a distinction between the two. Arthritis covers a wider range, while osteoarthritis is simply a type of arthritis that involves the bones.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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How to treat effusion in osteoarthritis?

General treatment methods are mainly divided into two categories. First, conservative treatment, which is non-surgical and includes rest, immobilization, localized physical therapy such as heat application, acupuncture, etc. Physical therapy includes techniques like spectrum therapy, infrared, and diathermy. For some patients with mild osteoarthritis and minor effusions, these can gradually be absorbed over one to two weeks, and symptoms of pain and swelling can be alleviated. This can be combined with oral intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as celecoxib or ibuprofen. For patients with recurrent episodes, or those who are middle-aged and above with severe osteoarthritis and degeneration, and have substantial effusion, conservative treatments are generally not very effective. Therefore, we can try aspirating the effusion in the knee joint and appropriately administer intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injections to promote the recovery of osteoarthritis and delay the degeneration of bone proliferation. If conservative treatment still does not bring significant relief, then arthroscopic debridement and corresponding surgical treatments for the knee joint may be considered.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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Can osteoarthritis be treated with moxibustion?

The primary cause of osteoarthritis is degeneration, which can lead to damage, wear, and tear of cartilage within the joints, as well as the formation of excessive osteophytes and bone spurs around the joints. These changes cause symptoms such as knee pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. There are many treatment methods available, the most common of which include oral medication, rest, physical therapy, and moxibustion, all of which can help alleviate symptoms. However, these treatments only provide relief from the symptoms of osteoarthritis and do not cure the condition. If a cure is needed, surgical treatment, such as total knee replacement, may be necessary to fully recover. Conservative treatments like moxibustion can help relieve pain and reduce swelling, but they only offer relief and do not cure the condition. Therefore, while moxibustion can alleviate pain from knee arthritis, it cannot cure it.