Arthritis affects almost 80 percent of Americans. And those affected are getting younger, according to Dr. Barry Waldman of OrthoMaryland and director of the Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics at Sinai Hospital. "We don't really know why, but we're seeing an epidemic of patients with wearing out of joints in their 40s and even late 30s." But the good news, Waldman says, is that diet and exercise are the best ways to treat the disease.
What is arthritis?
The word means inflammation of the joint. This inflammation causes the cartilage in the joint to wear out. As it wears out, it causes four problems: pain, redness, swelling and deformity.
Are all those symptoms usually present?
No. They don't have to be. And there are all kinds of arthritis. The one we're most familiar with is osteoarthritis, the premature wearing out of the joints. There are other kinds caused by a number of diseases called inflammatory arthritis.
Who is most susceptible to osteoarthritis?
Past trauma and family history can play a role. But the vast majority of people just get it, and we don't know why.
How is it diagnosed?
Generally by X-ray.
What do you see on the X-ray?
A narrowing of the joints where the cartilage has worn away.
What are the most common symptoms people experience?
Pain and swelling. The pain tends to be worse when they are sedentary. When they're active, the joint hurts less.
Why?
We don't know, but cartilage tends to be healthier when it's moving.
When should someone seek treatment?
When the symptoms are interfering with things they want to do, whether it is walking or exercising.
Are there other conditions people could have that would give the same symptoms?
It could be an injury, but generally there are not a lot of disorders you can confuse with arthritis.
Does delaying treatment make the condition worse?
We encourage people to see a doctor because there are some kinds of arthritis that can be slowed down with medication.
Some people say weather makes their arthritis worse. Does research support that?
There have been a lot of studies done on arthritis and weather, and it seems that weather doesn't make a difference in arthritis pain. As far as we know, it's an old wives' tale.
What are the treatment options for those with osteoarthritis?
