Bones of contention

Don't ignore that pain in the lower back or shoulder,say orthopaedic surgeons,who have seen an increase in the number of patients with arthritic problems.

Don’t ignore that pain in the lower back or shoulder,say orthopaedic surgeons,who have seen an increase in the number of patients with arthritic problems. October 12 was globally observed as World Arthritis Day and on the occasion,several awareness camps were held by a host of orthopaedic surgeons.

According to Dr Parag Sancheti,orthopaedic surgeon,arthritis is a condition involving damage to the joints of the body. There are different types of arthritis,the most common of which is osteoarthritis a degenerative joint disease. The major complaint by individuals who have arthritis is localized to the joint affected . Pain from arthritis arises due to what occurs around the joint – damage to the joint from disease,daily wear and tear of joint,muscle caused by forceful movements against stiff,painful joints. The most important factor in treatment is to understand the disorder and find ways to overcome the obstacles which prevent it.

Dr Neeraj Adkar,orthopaedic surgeon from Sai Shree Hospital,opines that people have been increasingly opting for total knee replacement. He cited the example of a 65 year old woman from Aundh,who had been suffering from osteoarthritis in both her knee joints for the past five years. She was also overweight. But,post-surgery,she found a positive difference in her life style. Dr Rajeev Joshi,a joint replacement surgeon,also points out that strengthening of muscles and achieving endurance strength of muscles also helps in achieving long-term success of a joint replacement. However,doctors insist that exercises which are given immediately after the surgery must be done without fail.

According to Sancheti,there are different types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect both the larger and the smaller joints of the body,including the hands,feet,back,hip or knee. The disease is essentially one acquired from daily wear and tear of the joint. Initially,the condition starts with minor pain while walking but soon the pain can be continuous and even occur at night. The pain can be debilitating and prevent one from doing any type of activity. Osteoarthritis typically affects the weight bearing joints like the knee,hips,back and the spine. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder in which,for some unknown reason,the body’s own immune system starts to attack the body.

Once the diagnosis of arthritis is made,treatment is available for a variety of symptoms. There is no definite cure for osteoarthritis. Treatment options vary depending on the type of arthritis and could include physical therapy,lifestyle changes (including exercise and weight control),orthopaedic bracing medications,and dietary supplements (symptomatic or targeted at the disease process causing the arthritis). Medications can help reduce inflammation in the joints,which ultimately decreases pain.

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