World Arthritis Day: Awareness, prevention, and treatment

By Orchid | October 12, 2022October 12, 2022

Every year on October 12, World Arthritis Day is held to raise awareness of rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders, their effects on people’s lives, the symptoms they cause, how to prevent them, and how to get an early diagnosis to avoid consequences. The goal of the day is to unite individuals from all over the world on a single platform to promote awareness and demand improved treatment choices for those suffering from rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders (RMDs).

World Arthritis Day: It’s Importance (WAD)

An inflammatory joint illness called arthritis affects the tissues surrounding the joints as well as other connective tissues, resulting in stiffness and discomfort in the joints. There are more than 100 different forms of arthritis, although osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most prevalent. Due to a lack of understanding and assistance, arthritis and other related conditions have severely limited many people’s quality of life.

Theme for World Arthritis Day in 2022

The World Arthritis Day theme for 2022 is “It’s in your hands, take action,” urging people all around the world to band together for this cause and make this celebration beneficial for those who lack support.

The campaign’s slogan, “It’s in your hands, take action,” aims to motivate people with arthritis, their families, and the general public to seize every chance to enhance their quality of life.

Osteoarthritis: Chronic degeneration of cartilage/reduction of joint space gap

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis affecting many people’s lives. In this blog, we will inform you about its symptoms, causes, treatment options, and much more. Read till the end to have a better knowledge about osteoarthritis and make informed choices when it comes to living a better life with osteoarthritis.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis weakens this layer of cartilage covering the bones of the joints. As a result, the surface of our joints becomes rough. Due to this swelling, pain, and stiffness start in the joints. However, not everyone feels these symptoms. Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint, this disorder most commonly affects the joints in your hands, knees, hips, and spine.

Common risk factors for osteoarthritis:

• Age over 45 years: Osteoarthritis is more common in people over 45 years of age. The likelihood of developing osteoarthritis increases with age. With age, joint movement becomes stiff and less flexible. This is because the amount of synovial fluid inside the joints decreases and the cartilage becomes thinner. If the cartilage is completely damaged, there is rubbing from one bone to another.
• More common in women: Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, although it is not clear why this happens.
• Obesity: Osteoarthritis is related to obesity. With the addition of weight, your knees get extra stress which can put pressure on the cartilage to break down. As a result, obese individuals are more likely to require joint replacement.
• Past injury to the joint: Injuries, such as injuries from sports or an accident, can increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Even injuries from years ago that seem to have healed can increase your risk of osteoarthritis.
• Previous surgery on the limb: Previous surgery can cause osteoarthritis years or even decades later.
• Family history of osteoarthritis: People with a family history of osteoarthritis are slightly more likely to develop osteoarthritis itself. This may be due to genetic abnormalities of the joints that make them more vulnerable.
• Muscle weakness: Osteoarthritis is related to muscle weakness. People with osteoarthritis often experience joint pain, stiffness, and muscle weakness.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis:

• Joint pain: Pain in the affected joint during or after movement of the body.
• Stiffness in the joints: Stiffness in the joints may be worse upon waking or after being inactive.
• Inflammation: Osteoarthritis can cause swelling of the soft tissue around the joint. Difficulty in walking: You may have difficulty walking.
• Crunching sound: You may feel a grating sensation when you move, and you may hear a popping or cracking sound.
• Deformity: Changes in osteoarthritis usually occur gradually over many years, although there are occasional exceptions. Inflammation and injury to the joint causes bone changes, deterioration of tendons and ligaments, and the breakdown of cartilage, resulting in pain, swelling, and deformity of the joint.

Preventing Osteoarthritis:

• Keep weight under control
• Control your blood sugar
• Be active every day
• Avoid joint injury
• Pay attention to the pain and consult a doctor

Treatment of Osteoarthritis:

• Weight loss
• Activity modifications: For people with osteoarthritis, activity modifications are a lifestyle change that can help relieve osteoarthritis symptoms and improve health. Some people reduce their level of physical activity to reduce the pain and swelling of their osteoarthritis joints. While decreasing activity can help reduce pain and inflammation, it is important to know that decreased activity also has negative effects.
• Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy helps to manage some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Physiotherapists provide advice and education on exercises, pain relief, and ways to manage your condition. Orchid Medical Centre has one of the best team of Physiotherapists in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
• Use of Walking aids
• Knee braces for osteoarthritis: Knee braces can be used to manage the discomfort of osteoarthritis of the knee. A brace can help ease your knee pain. Wearing a brace can improve your walking ability
• Medications
• Injections
• Joint replacement: Joint replacement can help relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints. The most common reason for joint replacement surgery is to relieve severe pain caused by osteoarthritis. People who need knee replacement surgery usually have problems walking, climbing stairs, and getting up in chairs. Some also experience knee pain while resting.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that worsens over time, often resulting in chronic pain. Joint pain and stiffness can be severe enough to make daily tasks difficult. The pain and disability of osteoarthritis can lead to depression and sleep disturbances.
If you are suffering from these problems then do not delay and consult one of the best orthopedic surgeons in Ranchi, Jharkhand for joint replacementat Orchid Medical Centre today.