Arthritis : Facts & Myths Part-3



What is osteoarthritis (OA)?

OA is the most common form of arthritis and can occur together with other types of arthritis. It can affect people of all ages but the disease is more common among older people.


What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis ?
Patients have pain in affected joint which worsens with movement, stiffness after prolonged activity, cracking or grinding noise and decreased range of movement of the joint.

What are the risk factors for osteoarthritis?

Age, obesity, repetitive joint use like kneeling, bending and squatting, and previous joint trauma increases the risk of osteoarthritis.


Is osteoarthritis curable?
At present, there is no treatment that can reverse the damage of OA in the joints; however it can be managed by adopting lifestyle measures.

Do Athletes are predisposed to arthritis?

Osteoarthritis may occur prematurely in certain sports like football, long distance running.
Recreational sports done at a "reasonable" level do not increase risk.
Is there an increased risk of osteoporosis (weak bones) in patients who have rheumatic disease?
Yes, there is an increased risk of osteoporosis in patients with inflammatory arthritis e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, sjogren’s syndrome and scleroderma due to active disease and also certain drugs used in the treatment cause  osteoporosis. Lack of physical exercise further contributes to the problem.


Is Alternative &Natural treatments useful for arthritis?
Alternative & Natural therapies are not the substitute for drug treatment but may be complementary e.g. massage therapy can be a great way to ease the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis but make sure that you find a massage therapist who is experienced and comfortable working with people with arthritis as some elements of massage may not be appropriate for you. Similarly, your diet affects your overall health. While there is no specific diet for arthritis, but there are some ways that diet may affect your arthritis like food sensitivities. A small number of people with arthritis might be sensitive to certain foods that could trigger symptoms or cause them to worsen.

Can arthritis patient donate blood ?

Anyone with any autoimmune disease should not give blood.
unless they are asymptomatic and off all medications for one month.


Is it important to investigate the child if mother or father is having arthritis?
No, unless the child is having any symptoms of arthritis.


How important is it for an arthritis patient to do physical activity and exercises?
Arthritis patients living with chronic pain often finds it difficult to exercise. The pain causes a person to become less active and less activity increases pain, so a vicious cycle sets in. Patients who are not active are likely to experience depression, which is often associated with increased pain and fatigue. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to be physically active and do regular exercises.

Can an arthritis patient join gymnasium and undergo weight bearing exercises?

An arthritis patient can join a gym under a good trainer who can guide for range of motion exercises. Arthritis patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercises and weight bearing exercises.



Next part will be published on 29th March 2019.

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