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Arthritis FAQs

05 Jun

Arthritis FAQs

by Dr Chris Reeves
in Arthritis
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You may have caught the following Frequently Asked Questions on our Facebook page, as we celebrated Arthritis Awareness Week last week!

Haven’t seen our page? Check it out (& feel free to “like” us!) here!

1. What exactly is arthritis and why is it very common among the senior patients?

Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints. Age is the strongest predictor of the disease (in particular, osteoarthritis) and therefore increasing age and extended life expectancy will result in a greater occurrence of the disease.

2. What are the most common types of arthritis and how do they differ?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis and is considered a form of degenerative joint disease, i.e. your ‘wear and tear’ type issue. The other common types of arthritis can include rheumatoid (RA), psoriatic and septic arthritis. These can be more linked to an auto-immune disorder or infection within the joint.

3. What is the typical treatment option for arthritis?

There is unfortunately no known cure for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment options vary depending on the type of arthritis but may be divided into 3 categories:

  • Pharmacological: Includes control of pain and improvement in function and quality of life while limiting drug toxicity. For OA, medications such as paracetamol (Panadol Osteo) may be indicated. For RA and other inflammatory types, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID’s) such as ibuprofen may be prescribed. In more severe cases, a category of drug called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) may be administered (e.g. Methotrexate).
  • Non-pharmacological: Physical therapy such as Osteopathy, lifestyle modification such as weight loss and a tailored exercise program and orthopaedic bracing can all be considered.
  • Surgical intervention: Is generally reserved for failed medical management where functional disability affect’s a person’s quality of life.

4. How can Osteopathy be beneficial to patients suffering from arthritis?

Taking into consideration an Osteopath cannot CURE a condition such as arthritis, they may be able to provide manual treatment techniques such as soft tissue massage and passive joint articulation, which may reduce muscle spasm surrounding the joint and improve blood flow and nutrition to within the affected joint/s. They will also be able to formulate an appropriate exercise/mobility regime, aimed to optimise quality joint movement and body function.

5. Is there any chance to prevent an arthritis condition? What are the prevention methods/techniques?

As previously mentioned, there is no cure for arthritis, but here are some management ploys that may curb the severity and/or onset of arthritis:

  • See your GP or physical therapist for advice.
  • Keep active and eat a well-balanced diet. Exercise has proven to keep your joints and muscles healthy and flexible, and a diet aimed at maintaining an ideal body weight is recommended.
  • There is poor independent evidence to support the use of joint supplements such as glucosamine sulphate; however, anecdotally some people have reported either relief or reduction in their arthritic symptoms.
For more information chat to your General Practitioner or Osteopath.

Don’t have an Osteo? Call us to make an appointment 03 9580 1820, or book online here!