Joint Replacement Surgeon, Delhi
Blog on knee replacement / hip replacement surgeries by top joint replacement surgeon, Delhi
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Myths and Facts of Osteoarthritis - Views of an arthritis specialist
# Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is
the same thing
Myth: Any arthritis specialist can explain to you that osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis are two types of
arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. It’s
also known as degenerative joint disease or “wear-and-tear”
arthritis. It can also be caused by the overuse of joints, and by obesity,
among other contributors. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is a
chronic, inflammatory type of arthritis. It’s an autoimmune disease that involves
multiple joints.
# Arthritis Sufferers Should Not Exercise
Myth: People with arthritis, even those with osteoarthritis of
the knees, should exercise regularly to reduce pain and strengthen muscles
around joints. Not only will appropriate activities decrease your osteoarthritis
pain, they can improve range of motion, function, and reduce disability. A
bonus: Regular activity helps you achieve, and then maintain, a healthy weight.
So seek advice from your arthritis specialist and keep activities low impact - so skip the marathon and opt instead for biking,
walking, and aquatic activities
# Osteoarthritis
happens to everyone when they age
Myth: Osteoarthritis is not a normal part of the aging
process, but the risk of developing it does increase with age. You can lower
your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and resting
any exercise-induced injuries. There are several factors thought to increase
the risk of developing the condition including genetics and having a joint
injury in the past, especially if it was overused before it was given enough
time to heal.
# It affects only the old
Myth: While the risk of osteoarthritis increases with age, it can
affect individuals of all ages.
Overall
it affects 13.9% of adults aged 25 and older and 33.6% of those are 65 and
above. Also, younger women with bad footwear
choices are also at the highest risk. Loosely fitted trainers and high heels
can alter the body’s posture and increase pressure on the foot, ankle and knee
joints, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis.
# Osteoarthritis is not hereditary
Myth: Chances of getting OA are greater if both parents
have OA, particularly if they have the condition in their knees. Women are more
likely to inherit OA, and among Asian populations, scientists have found a
higher hereditary link for hip OA, as well. But as per clinical experience of an arthritis doctor, more than 50 percent of cases
of OA of the knee are due to other factors such as being overweight, lack of
exercise, and knee injuries in early life.
# You can't prevent osteoarthritis
Myth: Except for some hereditary conditions, the most common
causes of OA can point us toward a path of prevention:
Obesity - For each kg increase in weight, the force across the knee
joint increases by 2 -3 kg.
Overuse
or injury - According to the Arthritis
Foundation, athletes and people whose jobs require repetitive motion are at a
higher risk; high-intensity sports such as running, which directly impact
joints also increase the risk of OA.
Muscle
weakness - In particular weakness of the
muscles surrounding the knee (quadriceps) can raise your risks of injury and
knee OA.
Other
types of arthritis and conditions, like rheumatoid
arthritis, can also increase your chances of developing OA.
# Need for a knee replacement is determined
by how bad the knee looks on an X ray
Myth: An X ray can show cartilage loss and bone damage. But an arthritis doctor can clear this myth and tell you that there
may be a big difference between how much damage shows up on an X ray and how
much pain and stiffness patients feel. In general, arthritis doctors decide about surgery
is based on subjective factors in conjunction with X ray findings; for
instance, pain and disability that persist after trying several medications,
interfere with your usual activities, keep you awake at night or make it hard
to get around. Other factors that may figure into the decision include your
general condition, weight and bone health.
# There's no treatment for osteoarthritis
once you have it
Myth: Though it's true that there is no cure for OA, there are a
number of treatments for this type of arthritis. Arthritis specialists can give pain medications, injections
of substances that help cushion damaged joints, physical therapy, and surgery
can help ease OA pain and other symptoms. Joint replacement surgeon can also help
restore mobility to people with severe cases of OA.
# Over-the-counter (OTC) pain pills are the
safest treatment for OA knee pain
Myth: Even non-prescription pain pills can cause serious side
effects. Taking pain killers too frequently or mixing different types of pills
can cause real safety concerns
# An orthopaedic doctor can’t help me with knee pain if I don’t want surgery
Myth: It’s true that there is no cure for osteoarthritis, but surgery
isn’t the only option. In fact, about 40 percent of seniors have
osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, but only about 5 percent will go to a
joint replacement surgeon. You can manage osteoarthritis symptoms through a
combination of exercise, weight loss, pain management techniques, alternative
therapies, and medications.
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