Healthy Lifestyle

Straightening out the knots

OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA) is the single most common cause of chronic pain. OA is a common joint condition affecting mainly weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips and spine.

While almost everyone will experience pain in their joints at some point in their lives, the extent of the pain varies from person to person.

There are many factors responsible for the aches.

Sometimes, genes play a part. Caucasians for instance, tend to suffer from hip OA. In Singapore, almost 90 per cent of lower limb OA cases are those affecting the knee.

Being overweight can also put you at a greater risk of developing OA because the excess weight will strain the joints.

Said Dr Leong Keng Hong, a consultant physician and rheumatologist with Gleneagles Medical Centre: “Every one kg of weight gained is 5kg of pressure exerted on the knee joints.”

Age can also play a role. According to Dr Leong, by 2030, an estimated 19 per cent or 950,000 Singaporeans will be above 65 years, and at risk of developing OA.

DON’T LIVE WITH THE PAIN

The common symptoms of OA are joint pains, which can be aggravated with activity, but better with rest. Stiffness of the joints in the morning (usually lasting for less than one hour) and limited and painful joint
movements are other symptoms.

The pain and debilitating effect of OA can be due to several factors other than the severity of the condition itself, said Dr Leong, who also serves as the chairman of the Chapter of Rheumatologists, College of Physicians, Singapore.

“In some instances, depression, the psychological state of the sufferer and isolation can cause more pain and disability in the individual than the actual disease,” he said.

This does not mean that OA sufferers have to bear with their condition and expect no relief for their symptoms.
In fact, OA can be modified by both medicinal and non-medicinal approaches.

A study on Singaporean OA patients that was published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases 2002 showed that socioeconomic and psychosocial factors can, in fact, significantly influence the pain or physical function in sufferers.

DIET, EXERCISE, SURGERY

Gentle exercises are the most effective and cheapest option to manage OA, said Dr Leong. It helps to protect the joints, control weight, delay the need for surgery and reduce the number of visits to the doctor. Swimming is also good for knee and hip OA.

Having a healthy diet is particularly important for people with OA, not only for their general well-being but also to reduce overloading their joints.

Surgical treatment such as total joint replacement is however only recommended in instances when medicinal
and non-medicinal treatments fail.

In some instances, the elderly or those with very bowed legs may have to resort to surgery, especially if the pain affects the quality of their lives.

However, more often than not, paracetamol is usually the first line drug for mild to moderate OA because of its welldocumented safety and efficacy profile, said Dr Leong.

With more research and studies being done on new and effective treatments, the management of OA will continue to evolve for the better.

“OA need not be a condition that relegates sufferers to a life less worth living. The use of various treatments,
combined with a willingness to make adjustments in lifestyle and habits can make a substantial difference in better coping with the disease,” said Dr Leong.