CAN e ritis tever r age...
Talbot. “It’s a progressive condition, ugh there is variation in rates of rioration. eing diagnosed with arthritis at an er age often will mean those patients end up having surgery at some point he future, and likely at an earlier age n normal. The average age for ulder replacement is around 73.” perience of osteoarthritis symptoms be different,” says Dr Benjamin Ellis, eumatologist at London’s Imperial ege Healthcare NHS Trust and or clinical policy adviser at Arthritis earch UK.
We all have aches and pains, but you d to be concerned if these everyday ones don’t seem normal or don’t go away. Our bodies go through a natural cycle of wear and repair. But as we age, this doesn’t work as effectively and that is why we suffer osteoarthritis.”
Typical symptoms include pain in joints as well as stiffness and swelling, often after prolonged use of a joint.
The joint itself might become lumpy. Some people suffer redness and general fatigue. Neither X-rays nor blood tests are needed to diagnose osteoarthritis. “It might sound counter-intuitive, but even if your joints are sore, the best thing is to exercise them as this builds up the muscles around them and increases the blood flow,” says Dr Ellis. Being a healthy weight can also help ease pain, he adds. If joint pain doesn’t go away you should see your GP. At first they might advise you to take over-the-counter painkillers starting with paracetamol. But if they prove ineffective, stronger prescribed painkillers such as Zamadol and Zydol may be recommended.
Other possible options are steroid injections to dampen down the joint’s inflammation.
“With osteoarthritis, it isn’t a case of one treatment suits all, but rather trying various ones to find what works best for you personally,” says Dr Ellis.
“Some patients I see like capsaicin cream which is made from chillies but NICE approved. You rub it into arthritic hands and it gives you a burning sensation. After two weeks, some patients feel it takes away some of the pain.” An online campaign been launched called Little to pass Wins h how to cope on everyday ‘life with arthritis. h campaign was The patient-led created by
Janssen and pharmaceutical aims to be a c Here are four platform to swap of its tips to make ha
■ Use a paper life easier: clip to pinch the squeeze it up end of your tooth the tube. This fingers if your can take the pressur hands are painful.
■ Use a teaspoon to pull back the
■ Instead of struggling ring-pull on a bands to open tight jars, around the lid wrap to make it easier pressure on your and red wrists.
■ Attach your keys to a keychain rather than having or brace them loose, so pull on it to retrieve you c the keys rather than digging around for them. “Some patients do have surgery, but they’re in the minority,” says Mr Talbot. A few younger patients with arthritis in their shoulder, for instance, may undergo arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery which ‘cleans up’ the damaged cartilage in the shoulder to help ease the discomfort suffered.
But with established painful arthritis some people have a shoulder joint replacement, which is a more invasive operation. It involves the ball and socket joint being removed and replaced with an artificial one, usually made from metal and plastic.
HAT ARE THE MPTOMS?
HOW DO YOU TREAT IT?
WHAT ABOUT SURGERY?
■■Visit facebook.com/littlewins Community, and littlewins.net for tips on how to cope with arthritis.
■■For information or help finding answers to your questions about arthritis, visit Arthritis Ireland’s website (arthritisireland.ie) or call the charity’s helpline on 1890 252 846.