Today, October 12 is being recognized worldwide as Arthritis Day– a day to bring to light the pain involved with arthritis, the often debilitating condition that affects one in five Americans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States. Of the three types of arthritis: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile arthritis, all can lead to joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability.
The Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (FSIPP), the group behind The Pain Truth, a statewide educational campaign dedicated to fighting prescription drug abuse, supports the CDC’s recommendations for preventing arthritis pain.
Learn Arthritis Management Strategies — Learning techniques to reduce pain and limitations can be beneficial to people with arthritis. Self-management education can help you develop the skills and confidence to manage your arthritis on a day-to-day basis.
Be Active — Research has shown that physical activity decreases pain, improves function, and delays disability. Make sure you get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least 5 days a week. You can get activity in 10-minute intervals. Read about the physical activity programs (such as Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program and Enhance Fitness) the CDC recommends for people with arthritis.
Watch Your Weight — The prevalence of arthritis increases with increasing weight. Research suggests that maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing arthritis and may decrease disease progression. A loss of just 11 pounds can decrease the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis.
See Your Doctor — Although there is no cure for most types of arthritis, early diagnosis and appropriate management is important, especially for inflammatory types of arthritis. For example, early use of disease-modifying drugs can affect the course of rheumatoid arthritis. If you have symptoms of arthritis, see your doctor and begin appropriate management of your condition.
Protect Your Joints — Joint injury can lead to osteoarthritis. People who experience sports or occupational injuries or have jobs with repetitive motions like repeated knee bending have more osteoarthritis. Avoid joint injury to reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis.
“When pain is ignored for a long period of time it makes it more difficult to treat,” said Deborah Tracy, MD, president of FSIPP. “Patients with higher success rates typically seek treatment at the on-set of pain.”
