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Taking the Pain Out of Arthritis

By Dr. Marlyn Lorenzo, Rheumatology, Mercy Medical Center & Overlea Personal Physicians

The Centers for Disease Control recently reported that the nation’s costs for dealing with arthritis and similar ailments reached $128 billion in 2003—an increase of nearly 60% over the 1997 figure of $86.2 billion. And these figures can be expected to rise as Americans continue to age and the obesity epidemic continues.

While we read these figures and shake our heads, few of us take the time to consider what we really know about arthritis—what is it exactly? Is it just the natural “aches and pains” we all seem to acquire as we age, or is it something worse? Just how serious is arthritis? 

Arthritis is a medical term that is defined as “joint inflammation” (although not all forms of arthritis are inflammatory). It typically manifests itself with a deep, aching pain that some patients call “bone pain.” Others note tension and a loss of flexibility and mobility and complain about “stiffness.” People will claim that the pain will get worse with changes in temperature, humidity, because of what they did or did not eat, and so forth.

But what really causes arthritis, a blanket term that can refer to any one of more than 100 or so diseases, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis? Elevated uric acid levels cause gout, and certain infections can cause some forms of arthritis, but the exact causes of this disease remain unknown. Research continues to examine such issues as genetic, lifestyle and environment to determine the root causes of arthritis.

There are certain risk factors for arthritis, including age, gender (most types of arthritis are more common in women than in men), and genetics. Specific genes are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis, mentioned earlier. About 2.1 million people suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and deformity of the joints. Other problems throughout the body can develop, including inflammation of blood vessels, formation of bumps (rheumatoid nodules) throughout of the body, lung disease, blood disorders, and weakening of the bones.

However, osteoarthritis is far more common, impacting about 21 million Americans. Sometimes called degenerative arthritis, inflammation results in pain in the joints, caused by wearing of the cartilage that normally serves as a cushion, reducing friction inside joints. As the cartilage wears down and the bone surface loses its protection, patients experiences pain upon walking, standing and other weight bearing exercise. As you move less, the surrounding muscles may atrophy, ligaments may become more lax and inflammation may result in these soft tissues as well.

While one cannot modify our age, gender or genes, there are risk factors that we can change. Obesity, joint injuries, and our occupations (such as those that call for repetitive knee bending) are factors we can modify.

If your doctor, following a detailed medical history and physical exam, x-rays and blood work, has diagnosed you with arthritis, what can be done? Treatments range from medications to physical therapy, splints and joint assistive aids, weight loss, and in some cases, surgery. Research continues to offer new treatments. For example, there are now injections into the affected joint that can help. A study published in the November 2006 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism has found that the botanical supplement, tumeric, may help with arthritis. For more information, be sure to see your doctor.

Arthritis is more than just “aches and pains.” It is a debilitating and sometimes crippling disease. Roman Emperor Diocletian knew just how bad arthritis can be, exempting citizens with the disease from paying taxes! However, by working together with your physician, you can help relieve the pain of arthritis and get moving again!

Dr. Marlyn Lorenzo is accredited by the American Board of Internal Medicine and specializes in Rheumatology, seeing patients at Overlea Personal Physicians in Overlea, MD., and at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore City. For more information, call 410-663-8100 or visit www.overleadocs.com.