Surgical options – are they worth it?
5 self-help tricks for arthritis pain
Surgery may ultimately be necessary if the damage to your joint is severe enough to cause difficulties in your everyday life and other treatments are not controlling the pain. Here are the pros and cons of the two most common procedures…
Keyhole surgery: simple but not a cure-all More than 150,000 Britons undergo arthroscopic keyhole surgery to their knees every year, mainly due to osteoarthritis, but a review in the British Medical Journal this year found it had been “oversold as a cure-all for knee pain”.
Professor Mark Wilkinson, for Arthritis Research UK, said: “Previous studies have shown knee arthroscopy isn’t recommended for the symptoms of pain and loss of function for people with degenerative knee arthritis. They benefit more from lifestyle modification, exercise, physiotherapy, or joint replacement.”
Joint replacements: effective but recovery can be slow These are now very common, successful operations, with hip and knee replacement the most performed. The procedure involves removing a damaged joint and putting in an artificial one made from metal, plastic or ceramic materials to help it move smoothly and painlessly again.
Artificial joint surgery can take from six months to two years to completely heal, and carries the normal blood clot and infection risks that go with all surgery. You’ll also need physiotherapy and a gentle exercise programme to strengthen your muscles.
A future alternative to surgery? Researchers from New York University have identified a specific molecule that maintains cartilage and therefore could halt the onset of arthritis. This discovery is considered a key step towards finding a cure. Keep to a healthy weight – this will avoid putting more pressure on your joints and worsening the pain. Make sure you exercise – arthritis sufferers who exercise regularly report lower pain levels. But do learn to rest whenever you’re tired. Get the right home help – having arthritis can make even the most simple physical tasks tricky. Your doctor can refer you to an occupational therapist who can give advice about managing ordinary tasks, and explain about gadgets and home adaptations. Sleep better – severe joint pain can make sleeping difficult, but research shows sleep is vital to help fight debilitating pain and fatigue. There’s also evidence that regularly suffering from disturbed sleep can increase levels of inflammation in the body. Try taking painkillers or having a warm bath before going to bed and check that your mattress is supportive and comfy. And don’t let it spoil sex. Most people with arthritis find their pain varies day-to-day, so make the most of it when you feel better.