Staying Mobile Later in Life
As older adults and seniors live longer and remain active later in life, the amount of wear and tear on their joints over time increases. This can lead to painful injuries, ligament damage, soft-tissue trauma and inflammation. Between 2000 and 2010, knee replacement surgeries nearly doubled in the U.S. and hip replacements rose even more, according to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic join conditions can include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid, while acute joint pain is often the result of inflammation or injury. Chronic and acute joint pain has some of the same external symptoms, which is why it’s important to understand underlying causes and speak with your physician about the best treatment options.
Why am I experiencing pain?
Chronic Conditions
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is a condition where cartilage, designed to lubricate and protect the bone, deteriorates causing the bones to rub together, triggering pain, discomfort and loss of movement.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Affecting nearly three times as many women as men, rheumatoid arthritis is also a well-known source of pain. The autoimmune disease causes the tissue lining the inside of joints to thicken, resulting in swelling and pain in and around the joints.
Acute Injuries
In addition to diseases that worsen over time, pain can also result from sporadic injuries or tears in and around the joint. Knee injuries represent one of the most common reasons for visiting the doctor. Each year, 10 million people see a doctor for common knee injuries such as fractures, dislocations, sprains and ligament tears.
How can I alleviate the symptoms and pain?
Some of the most popular methods for managing joint pain and related symptoms include:
Physical Activity for Osteoarthritis
For patients with osteoarthritis, your physician may recommend you follow an exercise plan to boost activity levels. Studies show exercising can help you maintain a healthy weight and strengthening muscles around affected joints can both ease the burden on joints and reduce pain.
Anti-inflammatory Medications
Physicians may prescribe pain and anti-inflammatory medications to help treat and alleviate joint pain. These medications are available in a variety of forms, including creams, pills and some that are injected directly into the affected area.
Surgical Procedures
Some individuals elect to have surgery to ease the pain caused by a chronic degenerative condition such as arthritis or acute injuries like ligament or cartilage tears. It is also an increasingly popular choice for individuals managing pain and limited mobility on a daily basis.
Do I need joint replacement surgery?
The most important factor in choosing to have a joint replaced is assessing how the pain is impacting your quality of life.
Here are some signs that it may be time to see a doctor about a knee or hip replacement:
- You can no longer complete routine daily tasks without help.
- You have significant pain that 1) keeps you awake at night despite the use of medications, 2) keeps you from being able to walk or bend over, 3) isn’t relieved by rest, or 4) isn’t helped by non-surgical approaches.
- You are suffering severe side effects from the medications combatting your joint pain.
- Tests show advanced arthritis or significant joint damage.
If you are experiencing any of these warning signs, contact your primary care physician (PCP) for a consultation and a thorough exam. Your PCP can refer you to an orthopedic surgeon if more specialized help is needed.
To find an orthopedic specialist, call 618-288-4388 or click here.