Arthritis Day, observed annually on October 12th, is a significant occasion dedicated to raising awareness about arthritis, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. The theme for Arthritis Day 2023 is "Empowering Lives, Embracing Hope," emphasising the importance of support, education, and hope for individuals living with arthritis.
Significance of World Arthritis Day
Arthritis is a group of over 100 different types of joint diseases causing pain, stiffness, and swelling, severely impacting the quality of life. Arthritis Day plays a crucial role in educating the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about the challenges faced by arthritis patients. It advocates for early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and improved access to care, ensuring a better life for those affected.
Importance of World Arthritis Day
Arthritis Day serves as a platform to highlight the significance of joint health and the impact arthritis has on individuals, families, and communities. It encourages research, public initiatives, and support networks to alleviate the burden of this chronic condition. By spreading awareness, Arthritis Day fosters empathy and understanding, dispelling myths and misconceptions surrounding arthritis, and promoting inclusivity for those living with the condition.
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Theme: Living with an RMD at all stages of life
The 2023 theme underscores the empowerment of individuals battling arthritis through knowledge, self-care, and community support. It emphasises the role of hope in the face of chronic pain and disability. Arthritis organisations, healthcare providers, and communities around the world will organise events, seminars, and campaigns to share information, provide resources, and inspire hope among patients, caregivers, and the public.
On this Arthritis Day, let's join hands to support those affected by arthritis, spread awareness, and work towards a future where everyone, regardless of their joint health, can lead a fulfilling and active life. Together, we can make a difference and create a world where arthritis is better understood, effectively managed, and, one day, cured.
On the occasion of World Arthritis Day, the editorial team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Dr Priyadarshi Amit, senior consultant, Shoulder, Elbow & Upper limb Surgeon from Amrita Hospital Faridabad as he answers few of the commonly asked questions about arthritis.
What is arthritis?
"Arthritis refers to destruction of the joint with loss of a specialized structure known as cartilage in the joint. It usually causes joint pain of varying severity, swelling, difficulty in movement, and limits function of that joint. It can affect the individual to a various degree in his overall mental and physical health as well as personal and social life," explains Dr Amit.
Why does one get arthritis?
Arthritis can occur due to various reasons. The most common is advancing age, what we call as osteoarthritis, or inflammatory diseases most common being rheumatoid arthritis. Infact, every person is prone to get age-related arthritis in one or the other joint. Other causes can be post-injury or infection.
One of my parents has arthritis, am I likely to get it?
Now, it depends on the type of arthritis. Yes, it can run in family in cases of inflammatory arthritis. If it’s another variety of arthritis, you should not be worried.
Can it be prevented or cured?
I think it’s difficult to prevent age-related arthritis from happening to a joint. It’s a progressive condition. But, of course, there are few measures you can take to reduce its symptoms or delay its progression. With regards to inflammatory arthritis, there are various medications which can easily control your symptoms.
Can I lead my normal life with arthritis?
The severity of symptoms vary from patient to patient. Sometimes, patients have surprisingly minimal symptoms despite severe arthritis. On the other hand, other patients have severe disabling symptoms. However, patients can get back to normal life after appropriate treatment.
Do I have to have surgery?
Not necessarily, if your symptoms are mild or well controlled with non-operative measures you need not go for surgery. Essentially, we have range of treatment options for varying degree of arthritis. In early stages, simple measures such as lifestyle modification, weight loss, painkillers, physical therapy can reduce your pain. The biologicals or regenerative treatment can control symptoms for a longer term. When these measures fail, we start looking at some sort of surgical solutions where the definitive solution is a joint replacement surgery where the damaged part of the joint is replaced with artificial implants.
I don’t want replacement surgery, is there any other surgical treatment option?
Yes, we do consider joint preservation surgery where we retain your native joints. These are minimally invasive procedures and offers quicker rehabilitation and early return to normal activities. Unfortunately, there are restricted indication where one can perform these procedures.
When should I go for replacement surgery?
You shoulder consider replacement surgery if you are struggling with symptoms which is affecting your life despite taking all non-surgical measures.
Is replacement surgery successful?
Yes, with modern technology and advanced techniques, joint replacement surgery is very successful in bringing you back into routine life. Although there are few complications which can occur, fortunately these happen in very small percentage of patients.
How long does one replacement implant last?
With the current implant options, we can provide the patients with joints that can last 15-20 years, for some it may be their lifetime.
In a nutshell, in today’s era, arthritis is not a disease to be worried about. We have got treatment options that can put the patients with arthritis back into action.