KARACHI, April 24: Arthritis is one of the most common diseases that affects one in every five adults. This was stated by Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Riaz Hussain Lakdawala while speaking at Sign, Symptoms and Care Public Health Awareness Programme organised by the Aga Khan University' at its Clifton Medical Services on Monday.

AKU orthopaedic surgery department head Dr Riaz Lakdawala said that arthritis was the leading cause of disability in the world and primarily affected people over the age of 45 years. He said that one out of every five adults was affected by one of the 100 different types of arthritis. He explained that the most common type of arthritis was osteoarthritis, which only affected the joints. In fact, most people over the age of 50 years showed some signs of osteoarthritis as joints naturally degenerate over time. Other common types were Rheumatoid Arthritis and Septic Arthritis.

He said that arthritis could be managed through a combination of medications, exercise, rest, body weight management, nutrition and in some cases surgery. He identified the common signs of arthritis as swelling, redness, tenderness in and around the joint. He said that common symptoms included joint pain, stiffness and restricted movement of joints. The symptoms also included sleeplessness, fatigue, depression and muscle aches, he said.

Dr Riaz said that aches and pains were common in human body and usually went away after a few days. However, he said, if the symptoms persisted for over two weeks, one should see the doctor for a definite diagnosis and necessary treatment. He said that there were no medications that could completely cure arthritis, however, these could effectively provide relief from pain and inflammation. Regular exercise actually helped relieve pain and also prevented arthritis symptoms from getting worse. Joint replacement and other types of surgeries provided marked relief in pain and restore physical function in patients with advanced disease leading to deformity and disability, he said.

He said that joint replacement techniques had advanced in the last 25 years making the surgery highly successful. “In summary, arthritis does not mean an end to your active lifestyle. With timely diagnosis and proper treatment most people are able to live a fulfilling life,” he concluded.—PPI