Getting Informed With Arthritis 101
By: Aya C. Chow
Information
is key to making knowledgeable decisions and to having a good dialogue with
your health care provider. We have
offered this class previously at the Center and also in our community. To date,
this class has been taught at five senior centers in English, Cantonese,
Vietnamese, and Spanish with over 100 different participants. In the following
months, we expect to make six more appearances in our community.
So
what is arthritis? The term ‘arthritis’ is made up of two Latin words: ‘arth’
meaning ‘joint’, and ‘ritis’ meaning ‘inflammation’. However, arthritis could
be better defined as having problems with the joint, as inflammation may not
always be a symptom.
Arthritis
is not just one disease, but a generic term that refers to over 120 different
types of conditions related to the joints. Some of the more prevalent types of
arthritis found in America today are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,
gout, lupus, and fibromyalgia.
Common
symptoms include pain, stiffness, or inflammation (in the rheumatic types) in
or around a joint. If these symptoms do not go away in two weeks, if you are
having difficulty in doing your everyday activities, if your joints feel stiff
or are hard to move, or if the pain and stiffness is more severe during certain
times of the day, then it is time to see a doctor. Only a qualified health care
professional can make a diagnosis of arthritis for you
Working
together with your doctor on improving your care leads to a win-win situation.
Individuals are unique and different, as are their symptoms. Therefore, the
treatment options and sequence available to each individual is quite varied.
There
are many things you can do on your own to possibly relieve your pain. Examples
include low impact exercising, eating a healthy diet (food pyramid), engaging
in stress relief activities (meditation), using assistive devices (brace,
walker), getting bodywork (massage) or acupuncture, and a host of other
complimentary conservative treatments. It is good to let your doctor know if
you are using any supplements or herbal remedies, as they may cause side
effects with the medications they may have prescribed for you.
As
you well know, there are many medications out there. The 2002 Drug Guide,
a magazine put out by the Arthritis Foundation, is a wonderful informational tool
to help you sort them out. You can request this literature, as well as their 2001
Supplement Guide, by calling (415) 356-1230 or going online to http://www.arthritis.org/ and entering the
“Store” section.
After
conservative treatments and medications come cortisone injections and
viscosupplementation. Cortisone injections in the joint are for short-term
relief but do not necessarily help in the healing process. Viscosupplementation
is where synthetically prepared hyaluronic acid is injected into the synovial
sac of the knee joint through a series of three to five shots given one week
apart from each other. It may take weeks or months for the effects to be felt.
At
the end of the treatment spectrum is surgery. Arthroscopy, total joint replacement, minimally invasive
total joint replacement, and the UniSpacer knee system are just some options
available. Some may put this off as long as possible, and some do not. Whatever
the case may be, it is a personal decision worked out between you and your
doctor.
Your treatment is in your own hands, and your comfort level is key. Take advantage of the classes and the support group the Center offers, as well as our informational patient library. Keep informed about the options available to you, stay active, and remember to protect your joints.