Dr Biren Nadkarni senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon & Joint Replacement Surgeon delhi

Myths and Facts of Osteoarthritis - Views of an arthritis specialist

# Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is the same thing

Myth: Any arthritis specialist can explain to you that osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis are two types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. It’s also known as degenerative joint disease or “wear-and-tear” arthritis. It can also be caused by the overuse of joints, and by obesity, among other contributors. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is a chronic, inflammatory type of arthritis. It’s an autoimmune disease that involves multiple joints.

# Arthritis Sufferers Should Not Exercise

Myth: People with arthritis, even those with osteoarthritis of the knees, should exercise regularly to reduce pain and strengthen muscles around joints. Not only will appropriate activities decrease your osteoarthritis pain, they can improve range of motion, function, and reduce disability. A bonus: Regular activity helps you achieve, and then maintain, a healthy weight. So seek advice from your arthritis specialist and keep activities low impact - so skip the marathon and opt instead for biking, walking, and aquatic activities

#  Osteoarthritis happens to everyone when they age

Myth: Osteoarthritis is not a normal part of the aging process, but the risk of developing it does increase with age. You can lower your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and resting any exercise-induced injuries. There are several factors thought to increase the risk of developing the condition including genetics and having a joint injury in the past, especially if it was overused before it was given enough time to heal.

# It affects only the old

Myth: While the risk of osteoarthritis increases with age, it can affect individuals of all ages.

Overall it affects 13.9% of adults aged 25 and older and 33.6% of those are 65 and above. Also, younger women with bad footwear choices are also at the highest risk. Loosely fitted trainers and high heels can alter the body’s posture and increase pressure on the foot, ankle and knee joints, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis.

# Osteoarthritis is not hereditary

Myth: Chances of getting OA are greater if both parents have OA, particularly if they have the condition in their knees. Women are more likely to inherit OA, and among Asian populations, scientists have found a higher hereditary link for hip OA, as well. But as per clinical experience of an arthritis doctor, more than 50 percent of cases of OA of the knee are due to other factors such as being overweight, lack of exercise, and knee injuries in early life.

# You can't prevent osteoarthritis

Myth: Except for some hereditary conditions, the most common causes of OA can point us toward a path of prevention:

Obesity - For each kg increase in weight, the force across the knee joint increases by 2 -3 kg.

Overuse or injury - According to the Arthritis Foundation, athletes and people whose jobs require repetitive motion are at a higher risk; high-intensity sports such as running, which directly impact joints also increase the risk of OA.

Muscle weakness - In particular weakness of the muscles surrounding the knee (quadriceps) can raise your risks of injury and knee OA.

Other types of arthritis and conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, can also increase your chances of developing OA.

# Need for a knee replacement is determined by how bad the knee looks on an X ray

Myth: An X ray can show cartilage loss and bone damage. But an arthritis doctor can clear this myth and tell you that there may be a big difference between how much damage shows up on an X ray and how much pain and stiffness patients feel. In general, arthritis doctors decide about surgery is based on subjective factors in conjunction with X ray findings; for instance, pain and disability that persist after trying several medications, interfere with your usual activities, keep you awake at night or make it hard to get around. Other factors that may figure into the decision include your general condition, weight and bone health.

# There's no treatment for osteoarthritis once you have it

Myth: Though it's true that there is no cure for OA, there are a number of treatments for this type of arthritis. Arthritis specialists can give pain medications, injections of substances that help cushion damaged joints, physical therapy, and surgery can help ease OA pain and other symptoms. Joint replacement surgeon can also help restore mobility to people with severe cases of OA.

# Over-the-counter (OTC) pain pills are the safest treatment for OA knee pain

Myth: Even non-prescription pain pills can cause serious side effects. Taking pain killers too frequently or mixing different types of pills can cause real safety concerns

# An orthopaedic doctor can’t help me with knee pain if I don’t want surgery

Myth: It’s true that there is no cure for osteoarthritis, but surgery isn’t the only option. In fact, about 40 percent of seniors have osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, but only about 5 percent will go to a joint replacement surgeon. You can manage osteoarthritis symptoms through a combination of exercise, weight loss, pain management techniques, alternative therapies, and medications.