Joint Effort

In 2003,she was operated upon for arthritis and is now back to work. Speaking about her struggle,Deshpande encourages others to seek medical help as soon as they experience joint pain. Speaking at a recent seminar organised to help senior citizens understand joint pain and arthritis management,she said,“Do not spend another day suffering from joint pain. Seek medical counsel immediately.” Deshpande was the chief guest on the occasion and described how difficult it was for her to overcome the crippling disorder.

Orthopaedic surgeon Mahesh Kulkarni said,“Arthritis pain not only restricts your day-to-day activities such as walking,sitting,standing and climbing stairs,but also stops you from enjoying precious moments with your family. There is increasing prevalence of arthritis in India and senior citizens often continue to pull on with the daily routine in spite of the pain.”

He also stressed on having timely consultations with a specialist to assess the progression of joint disease and seek appropriate cure. “It is not necessary to go for an operation in all cases. Keeping your weight in check,regular exercises,physiotherapy and calcium intake are essential,” he said. There are times,as he mentioned,when the pain becomes unbearable despite precautions. “That is when one needs to consult a specialist for further course of action,” he added. He said fear is a key inhibitor for delaying such decisions. Kulkarni addressed concerns that patients had and clarified myths regarding joint replacement surgery.

He also elaborated on the efficacy of surgery and the availability of innovative products that offer high knee flexion,thereby enabling the patient to sit cross-legged easily. Also,the advent of computer-navigated knee replacement has revolutionised the results of knee surgery and patients can now look forward to a faster post-operative recovery.

“Total knee replacement surgery is one of the most successful long-term surgical procedures in the world. Minimally invasive techniques only require a small incision that not only reduces blood loss and tissue damage but also expedites the recovery process,” he said.