A first of its kind study indicates that an opioid may help to slow the spread of osteoarthritis and help to lessen the pain associated with it at the same time. The researchers found that they could treat the pain associated with arthritis in a traditional way with a slight twist.
The research team is based out of the University of Southern California.
The new opioid works by binding to the kappa opioid receptor which helps to relieve pain. This pain relief can be targeted, and the opioid itself is far less addictive than other opioids that have been used in the past. It isn’t a perfect solution as it is still slightly addictive, but it is much safer than others have shown to be.
As you may already know, opioids have received a lot of scrutiny over the past several years because they have some severe negative qualities. They can be incredibly addictive, leading to illegal behavior as addicted individuals attempt to get more of the medication. Even worse than this is the fact that they can cause organ failure and death if they are abused for a period of time. This has led to a crisis often referred to as the opioid epidemic. For these reasons, many may be skeptical of taking an opioid to help with osteoarthritis. However, this new medication is purported to be a lot safer and less addictive than opioids of the past. There’s still more research needed here, but early results look promising.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage at the end of the bone begins to break down. The end result is painful joints, especially when it comes to impact, such as you would experience in your knees and hips when walking. If this pain can be reduced or even eliminated, a lot of additional health issues can be avoided. Not only will life be more comfortable and convenient, the individual experiencing this type of arthritis will be able to exercise more because of the increased mobility. This has the potential to help avoid or alleviate symptoms of obesity, cardiovascular illness, or other diseases.
Arthritis impacts about 25 percent of all adults in the U.S. That’s not just the elderly, but anyone over the age of 18. Arthritis comes in many varieties, so it’s important to consult with a doctor so that you have an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan in place. Not all types are treated in the same manner, so it’s important to approach it from the right direction.
Many people are treated for painful arthritis symptoms with opioids, and the addictive quality can often be more harmful than the pain itself. Hopefully, this new treatment plan will help more people live a higher quality of life without putting them at risk for even worse health issues.
Arthritis can be detrimental to someone’s quality of life and they may need extra help around the house as a result. If you or a loved one finds yourself in this situation, please get in touch with us. We can help you go over your options so that your life at home is not negatively impacted because of mobility issues.
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