OSNA's Expert Q & A - Arthritis
Q: How common is arthritis?
A: According to the Center for Disease Control’s 2009 data, arthritis affects 50 million adults in the U.S. or about 22% of the adult population. It is estimated that it will affect 67 million by 2030. The prevalence is slightly higher in women (24%) than men (18%). Arthritis is the #1 cause of disability among adults in the U.S.
Q: What is arthritis?
A: Simply put, arthritis is a wearing down of joint cartilage. You can think of it as being similar to losing the tread on a tire. Arthritis technically means “inflammation of the joint.”
Q: I think I have arthritis. What are the symptoms/how would I know?
A: Arthritis can affect just about any joint in the body. The main symptoms include joint pain (often with activity), stiffness or loss of motion, swelling of the joint, and inflammation. Many other symptoms are possible including locking or catching of the joint, deformity of the joint, and crepitation with range of motion.
Q: What are the main causes of arthritis?
A: There are over 100 causes of arthritis. Typically arthritis is put into two categories, osteoarthritis (wear and tear) and inflammatory arthritis which includes diseases and conditions that lead to excessive inflammation of the joints and can lead to loss of joint cartilage. Inflammatory arthritis includes the diseases and conditions of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile (childhood) rheumatoid arthritis, gout, Reiter’s syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, and many more.
Q: What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis?
A: Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis. A common term for osteoarthritis is “wear and tear” arthritis. Osteoarthritis accounts for about 65% of all arthritic conditions.
Q: What are the main treatments for arthritis?
A: Any treatment of arthritis is designed to
1) decrease pain and inflammation;
2) to improve range of motion, activity and
3) prevent disability.
Often treatment starts before seeing a physician with rest, modification of activities, use of over the counter medications, ointments and supplements, use of ice, and the use of wraps and braces.Some of the medical treatments recommended may depend upon the type of arthritis, but typically they include non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory medications, acetaminophen, and occasionally narcotic pain medication. These are typically recommended or prescribed by a physician. Injections of joints with corticosteroids (cortisone and others) or with visco-supplementary medications can also be initiated. They are designed to decrease inflammation and pain. The evaluation for treatment of osteoarthritis is best done by an orthopedic specialist, either an orthopedic surgeon or physiatrist. For inflammatory arthritis, it is best to see a rheumatologist for an accurate diagnosis and for specific treatment.
Q: How do I know if I will need surgery?
A: Surgery is often the last course of treatment recommended. Surgery is designed to decrease pain, often preserve or improve range of motion, correct deformities and improve disability caused by arthritis. Surgeries include synovectomies, osteotomies, occasionally arthroscopy, occasionally joint fusions, and often artificial joint replacement. A patient should be healthy enough to tolerate surgery and may require a medical work up prior to surgery. They would also have to be able to participate in and tolerate any post- operative rehabilitation that would be required to optimize the outcome of surgery. You should consult an orthopedic surgeon to discuss surgical options.
Q: What is your advice for patients with arhritis?
A: Try to maintain function of the involved joint and stay as active as possible. This can often improve their quality of life and may help prevent or treat other diseases like coronary artery disease and diabetes. If the arthritis cannot be improved with typical over the counter remedies and patient measures (e.g., wraps, braces, ice, modification of activities), see the attention of your primary care physician or an orthopedic specialist. You should also realize that over the counter medications may have risks if taken long-term without adequate physician supervision.
