So, what is arthritis?
Firstly, before you read any further, this blog is going to focus on Osteoarthritis. There are many types of arthritis, and it is important to know which one you have. There will be another blog to help you to understand the differences between each of them.
The most common type is Osteoarthritis which can occur in any joint, but particularly affects the hands, knees, hips, and spine. You may have heard of this but don’t really understand what it means.
Osteoarthritis was once described as wear and tear of the joint. Even as a Healthcare Professional, being told you have ‘wear and tear’ seems quite daunting, but this is not necessarily the case and is in fact more of a wear and repair process. The above image demonstrates a knee joint. We have cartilage that lines all the joints in our body. Over the age of 30 years old, we get changes to this cartilage. This then starts a repair process whereby bone will start to line the end of the joint potentially causing bony spurs called osteophytes. The joints are surrounded by a capsule which encases fluid. This capsule becomes more thickened and stretches causing the joint to lose its shape. There can also be an increase in fluid inside the joint due to inflammation.
It is valuable to note that Osteoarthritis can be diagnosed without a scan. Your treatment is also not dependent on scan findings but more from the symptoms that you experience.
You may think that Osteoarthritis is a condition that we get when we are older. Although the occurrence increases with age, it is not an expected part of aging. There are many other different causes. In weight bearing joints (e.g. knees and hips) being overweight is a common cause as this puts increased stress through the joints. Other causes may be due to a previous injury, having a job that requires high demand on the joints. Genetics also play a part.
So, what can I do about my Osteoarthritis? Will this ever go away?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Osteoarthritis but there will be many people that have it and will never have symptoms. The good news is that there are many ways to effectively manage your arthritis so that you can live the life you want. Keeping generally active will help you to maintain a healthy weight which will put less demand on your joints. Taking pain relief is also important to consider as this will control your pain more effectively enabling you to remain as active as possible. I get a lot of people say to me ‘but this masks my pain’. If you are in less pain however, you are more likely to be able to move around comfortably, reduce stiffness and increase your strength. Exercises are also important to improve/ maintain your mobility and increase your strength.
The good news to take home is that you can manage your Osteoarthritis and carry on doing the things you enjoy in life. Most people with osteoarthritis won’t need surgery or injections. If you already have severe limited mobility which is greatly affecting your life, seeing a physiotherapist can help to assess and discuss your treatment options. They can also help you with flare up advice.
References
What is arthritis? (no date) Arthritis.org. Available at: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis (Accessed: August 10, 2023).
