Getting answers about a debilitating medical condition can sometimes be a challenge.
That’s why Thursday's Our Health session will explore the toll arthritis exerts on area residents, who might be having trouble these days getting out of a chair or walking up the stairs at home.
“It's serious,” said Dr. Olivia Cheng, an orthopaedic surgeon at Georgian Bay General Hospital and Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.
“One in five Canadians live every day with arthritis and there is no cure. Arthritis is a collection of conditions affecting joints and other tissues. It causes pain, restricts mobility and diminishes quality of life.”
Entitled Living your Best Life with Arthritis, the live, virtual event goes Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Moderated by retired physician Keith Rose, Cheng and other panelists will discuss how residents can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life through therapeutic exercise, physical activity and joint-replacement surgery.
According to the Canadian Arthritis Society, arthritis affects about 6 million Canadians. There are many types of arthritis, including non-inflammatory osteoarthritis or inflammatory such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis affects one in six Canadians. It is a chronic disease which causes pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased movement in the hips, knees, fingers, toes or spine resulting from the body’s failed attempt to repair damaged joint tissue.
“When we look at the impact of arthritis, we need to take into consideration other musculoskeletal disorders affecting the joints, ligaments, tendons, bones, etc.,” Cheng said. “All of these can cause pain and functional limitations.
“Arthritis is often written off as ‘just arthritis,’ and ‘a natural part of aging,’ however, the mortality, morbidity burden of arthritis and the economic cost of arthritis has been underestimated. As a result, people often live with arthritis for years before receiving appropriate help.
Cheng said it’s important to learn about the symptoms of arthritis and to seek appropriate help.
“Early diagnosis and treatment of the illness can prevent or delay progression of the disease,” she said. “Also, managing the symptoms of arthritis can help you live a better life. The natural history of arthritis is that this disease will flare up intermittently with an overall progression over time.”
According to Cheng, risk factors for arthritis that you can control include being overweight, previous injury to the joint and smoking with factors beyond one’s control ranging from age, gender since it’s more common in women and genetics since inflammatory arthritis often runs in the family.
“Once you are diagnosed with arthritis, then you can address the factors that are within your control,” she said. “These include strengthening exercises to help protect and unload your joint.
“Keeping your weight healthy will help decrease the mechanical load on your joint and decrease the inflammatory factors in your body. Environmental factors such as eating food that minimizes inflammation and stop smoking are also important.
“For inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, there are many advances in medications that can help control the disease progression.”
Cheng said she’s often asked about the wait list for total joint-replacement surgeries.
“There is an increase in the prevalence of arthritis in Canada, the static trend in rates of joint-replacement procedures suggests that the system may be operating at capacity,” she said. “In our region, patients with arthritis are referred by their family doctors to a central intake clinic where they are assessed by an advanced-practice physiotherapist.
“Patients who are candidates for surgery are then referred to either their preferred or next available surgeon. The limiting factors on the ability for us to perform joint-replacement surgery include the number of joints we are allocated by the health ministry, operating room availability and hospital capacity.”
Thursday’s event will be broadcast on Rogers TV channel 53 (Midland, Tay and Penetanguishene only). For those with smart phones, tablets or computers with a Wi-Fi connection, you can view online. Questions can be submitted to [email protected].
