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By
Dr David Delvin.
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Osteoarthritis
is something that virtually all of us will eventually suffer from.
Indeed, by the age of 60 the vast majority of the population have some
degree of osteoarthritis, somewhere in their bodies. Many people -
especially younger folk - find that almost impossible to believe! Yes it's
true.
You see, the problem is that as the years go by, the joints in your body
gradually get damaged by wear and tear. That's osteoarthritis.
THAT WORD
'ARTHRITIS'
Now there's an awful lot of confusion about that word 'arthritis'. Many
older people hear it applied to them - and think that it means that
they're going to be crippled. That isn't true at all
So what does 'arthritis' mean?
Strictly speaking, it just means 'inflammation of a joint'. A simpler
definition is 'damage to a joint (or joints)'.
WHAT ARE JOINTS?
A joint is the place where two bones meet - like, for instance the
shoulder joint or the hip joint.
If you've ever looked at the inside of a joint of meat, and seen the place
where two shiny, smooth surfaces of bone come together (often as a
'ball-and-socket') then you'll know what I mean. You may have noticed how
well one bone moves on the other - simply because the joint surfaces are
so nice and regular.
In arthritis, those nice smooth, shiny surfaces become all rough and bumpy
- so that the joint doesn't work very well. An arthritic joint tends to
'grate' or creak. It becomes swollen - and it's painful!
MANY TYPES OF
ARTHRITIS
But there isn't just one kind of arthritis! There are at least 50.
All too often, what happens when folk hear the word 'arthritis' is that
they think of Rheumatoid arthritis. This is a fairly serious
condition - but it's nothing whatever to do with Osteoarthritis, So
please don't confuse the two.
Fortunately, rheumatoid arthritis isn't all that common. But
osteoarthritis is practically universal in older people - even though they
may not realise that they've got it.
WHERE DOES IT
STRIKE?
Osteoarthritis affects all sorts of joints in the body, but especially:
-
The
Knees
-
The
hips
-
The
joints of the back
-
The
joints of the hands
Happily,
in many people it only affects one or two joints, rather than being
widespread.
TREATMENT
The main ways of treating osteoarthritis are as follows:
-
Anti-arthritis
drugs. These don't cure the condition, but they reduce pain, stiffness
and inflammation.
-
Skin
applications. Various anti-arthritis potions can be rubbed into the
affected joints.
-
Losing
weight. In the case of arthritis of the weight-bearing joints
(especially the hips and knees),
-
Slimming
down to a normal weight can be of great benefit.
-
Physiotherapy.
Especially when combined with gentle exercise, this can be fairly
helpful.
-
Surgery.
An operation can sometimes help. In particular, it is now routine to
operate to replace an osteoarthritic hip. Knees can also be replaced.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Q. Doctor, I've been
diagnosed as having osteoarthritis. Does this mean I'm going to end up in
a wheelchair?
A. Certainly not! These days, hardly anyone who has osteoarthritis ends
up in a wheelchair.
Q. Doc, I can't
understand how I could possibly have got this osteoarthritis. I was a fit,
sporting man - an until recently I'd never had any health problems in my
life.
A. Unfortunately, sportsmen and sportswomen are particularly prone to
osteoarthritis. This is because of the strain they put on their joints in
early life.
So, many great footballers get osteoarthritis of the knee. Many former
long-distance runners and joggers (like me!) also run into this type of
knee trouble. Dancers and acrobats are also especially liable to
osteoarthritis.
Q. I can't tolerate
the anti-arthritis pills, which the doctor gives me. They just irritate my
tummy..
A. Unfortunately, many anti-osteoarthritis tablets do indeed irritate
the stomach and cause pain and even internal bleeding.
That's why it's a good idea to take osteoarthritis pills on a stomach
which has food in it. The grub protects the tummy.
Fortunately, newer anti-arthritis pills which don't affect the tummy are
becoming available. Also, it's possible to avoid tummy irritation by
taking the drugs in suppository form. But this simple answer is
still very unpopular with most patients - at least, on this side of the
English Channel..
Q. My doctor wants
me to lose three stone in weight. Would this really help my arthritis?
A. If your osteoarthritis affects your hip or your knee, then getting
rid of this really severe excess burden on the joints certainly would
help. After all, there's a limit to what human knees and hips can carry.
Q. I'm 48. My Mum
had osteoarthritis. Does this mean that I'll inevitably get it too?
A. No. There is a bit of a hereditary tendency, but if you keep your
weight down, keep fit, and avoid injuries to your joints, you probably
won't be at more risk of osteoarthritis than anyone else.
Q. Would swimming
help my arthritis?
A. Well, it won't cure it, of course. But swimming generally is
beneficial to most people with arthritis. However, I haven't found it
helpful for folk who have arthritis in the neck.
Q. I'm considering
having a hip replacement. Can you assure me that it will be successful?
A. No. No operation has a 100% success rate. But the results of the hip
operation are generally very good.
© 2000, 2001 Dr David Delvin/Retirement Matters
Ltd. All rights reserved.
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