>>> bbc.co.uk/news/health-61255733
MAIN POINTS and QUOTES (copied n pasted from article) - credit to author Michelle Roberts, BBC's Digital health editor, for an excellently put together article
- It may hurt to begin with, but can then ease pain and help individuals with osteoarthritis stay supple, healthy and slim
- Scans aren't needed to diagnose it and strong painkillers are not recommended.
- There is no evidence flushing out the joint helps either.
- according to the new NICE guidelines, physical activity should be the main treatment - not painkillers.
- 'exercise is a good intervention'
- "Many wrongly believe that exercise can harm the joints"
- If there is pain, consider using an anti-inflammatory cream or gel or taking an ibuprofen or similar type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicine, but not a strong opioid, says the advice.
- "Muscle strengthening and aerobic exercise can have an impact on not just managing the condition, but also providing people with an improved quality of life.
"Beginning that journey can be uncomfortable for some people at first..."
- ""We have taken the decision to not recommend some painkillers, such as paracetamol and some opioids for osteoarthritis..."
"This is because new evidence has shown there was little or no benefit. "