Yes! That’s exactly how I feel when I counsel elderly individuals about their joint health problems.
They find it extremely difficult to manage a chronic illness such as arthritis. At this stage of life, joint pain, stiffness, decreased mobility and other symptoms can make it difficult for them to perform daily tasks, work, and enjoy other activities. I've found that most of the time, people who experience joint soreness, report feeling worn out, angry, unhappy, sad or even depressed. For this reason, arthritis has a major negative influence on an elderly person's general health and well-being.
An elderly lady, recently shared a touching experience with me. She spoke about a moment when her 3-year-old granddaughter eagerly asked her to play. Unfortunately, due to the excessive pain in her joints, she was unable to fully engage in the playful activities they both cherished. The joy of spending time with her little one was overshadowed by the discomfort and stiffness she felt while trying to move. It was a heartbreaking moment for her, as she realized that her joint pain was limiting the simple pleasures of bonding with her granddaughter.
As someone who understands the impact joint difficulties may have on your daily life, my motive is to provide you expert guidance and personalized solutions for maintaining and improving joint function and enhance your overall health as well.
Keeping this in view, I've started this blog to share my insights and knowledge on joint health issues. Whether you’re dealing with arthritis, recovering from an injury, or just want to protect your joints as you age, this blog is your go-to resource for:
In my first blog, I will explain what Arthritis is and how it effects people of all ages.
Firstly, let’s understand the functioning of a joint.
"Joints are areas of the body where two bones meet and move. Soft connective tissue known as cartilage covers and cushions the ends of bones to prevent them from rubbing against each other during movement. One type of connective tissue known as articular cartilage helps your joints move smoothly and without friction or pain.”
"The synovial membrane, a cushioned pocket of fluid found in certain joints, lubricates the surrounding tissue as other tissues support the joints. Tendons connect muscles to bones, while ligaments are elastic bands of tissue that attach bones to form joints and increase their stability. Together, these elements support the body's natural, easy motion."
Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes damage in your joints. Anyone can get arthritis. Joints naturally wear down as you age or overworking or overusing your joints at young age can cause decreased synovial fluid (a thick, clear, pale yellow fluid that lubricates and cushions the joints).
Osteoarthritis (OA) is by far the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis destroys cartilage and narrows the joint space. It can damage almost any joint but typically affect knees, hands & hip joints. It can also cause bone overgrowth, bone spurs, and reduced function.
Swelling, discomfort, stiffness, and a reduction in joint range of motion are common signs of arthritis. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and may come and go. Some may stay about the same for years, but symptoms can also progress and get worse over time. Prolonged arthritis can result in chronic pain, difficulty performing daily activities and make walking and climbing stairs painful and grueling.
OA was once considered a wear-and-tear disease in which cartilage wore down after years of use. But with further research, the thinking about OA has changed. Doctors now know that OA is a disease of the whole joint, not just cartilage. Bones in affected joints become weaker, the connective tissue that holds the joint together deteriorates and inflammation damages the joint lining. Contrary to decades of belief, inflammation plays a key role in OA, just as it does in most other types of arthritis.
Arthritis Foundation says, “Arthritis isn’t a single disease; the term refers to joint pain or joint disease, and there are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. People of all ages, races and sexes live with arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability. It is most common among women, and although it’s not a disease of aging, some types of arthritis occur in older people more than younger people."
Arthritis can also cause permanent joint changes. Some types of arthritis affect the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys and skin as well as the joints.
The other common joint conditions affecting Indians are:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): An autoimmune disorder affecting nearly 0.5–1% of the Indian population, with a higher occurrence in women.
- Gout: More common in Indian men, especially those with diets high in purines and alcohol consumption.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: Typically affecting young males, this form of arthritis impacts the spine.
Top of that, Arthritis is expected to emerge as the fourth most common cause of physical disability in India.
While there is no cure, there are treatments that can help manage arthritis and reduce pain and joint discomfort.
In upcoming blogs, will talk about different type of arthritis, some important facts you should know about arthritis, arthritis symptoms in details, causes and risk factors, treatments and medications available, management of arthritis with diet & traditional practices and many more...
“Keep moving. If you do, you'll keep arthritis at bay!”
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