Our bones are composed of living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced and for the uninitiated, it is a dynamic organ where new bone is formed and old bone is discarded just like our skin. . Our bones help us move and protect various organs from damage but bone formation slows down with age although bone removal continues at the same rate leading to bone weak.
Joint pain basically means arthritis and it can be divided into primary and secondary, where primary arthritis is caused by aging while secondary arthritis is caused by other factors (inflammatory disease or etiology). trauma patients). Primary arthritis or osteoarthritis is the wear and tear of the cartilage that covers the joint or the protective layer of the joint, and as a result of this wear and tear, the bones begin to expose and cause pain to the patient.
The most common arthritis among Indians is knee arthritis and according to statistics, about 90% of patients develop arthritis after the age of 45. Caucasians are more susceptible to hip arthritis and Indians and Asians are more susceptible. more knee arthritis and the reason why Arthritis occurs after the age of 40 is due to a change in the ratio of protein and water in cartilage.
After the age of 40, the ratio of protein to water begins to change leading to wear and tear. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Samarth Arya, Consultant Orthopedic, Joint Replacement and Robotic Surgery at SPARSH Hospital, highlighted the causes and said: “The causes of Arthritis can be: are hereditary, i.e. diseases that run in families. Or sometimes the causes can be idiopathic, which means there can be multiple causes of arthritis.”
He added: “The wear and tear of cartilage is similar to what happens with car tires. Once it is worn away, it is gone forever and cannot grow back. So that’s the biggest problem in arthritis. Unlike skin, if torn or torn it heals because it has a blood supply. In the case of cartilage it is Avascular, meaning there is no blood supply. What we can do is reduce the progression of arthritis, but it is very difficult for us to bring the cartilage back. There are many different types of arthritis treatments, from conservative to surgical.”
According to Dr Nataraj HM, Robotic Joint Replacement and Sports Surgeon, HOD-Orthopaedics at Belenus Champion Hospital in Bengaluru’s Sarjapur Road, several factors influence bone formation and removal and by By understanding these factors, we can maintain bone health as we age. . He suggests the following tips for improving bone health –
1. Increase calcium supplement: Calcium is the most abundant mineral in our body that helps keep bones strong. Dietary sources of calcium are in dairy products, almonds, broccoli, kale, canned salmon with bones, sardines, and soy products, such as tofu. If it’s hard to get enough calcium from your diet, take a calcium supplement or tablet as prescribed by your doctor instead.
2. Fully supplemented with vitamin D: The body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium, and sunlight is the biggest source of vitamin D. Good dietary sources of vitamin D include oily fish, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, and tuna. Additionally, mushrooms, eggs, and fortified foods, such as milk and cereals, are also good sources. If exposure to sunlight and food sources isn’t enough, adding supplements helps.
3. Include physical activity in your daily routine: Excess weight increases your risk of fractures in your arm and wrist. Therefore, controlling body weight is good for bones as well as general health. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, climbing stairs, and lifting weights can help you prevent bone weakness.
4. Avoid substance abuse: Do not smoke! Reduce alcohol intake especially for women because women are more prone to weakening their bones as they age.
Adding to the list of preventive methods that can reduce the rate of wear and tear, Dr. Samarth Arya recommends:
- One must eat healthy and control calorie intake well, especially after more than 40 years. Keep a calorie count, but not to speak for the joints, but to maintain the overall body weight. Increased weight will lead to increased cartilage wear and tear. Therefore, it is important to keep a check on your calorie intake.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle and include green leafy vegetables in your diet
- Exercises and regular activities to keep joints mobile and supple.
- Avoid vigorous and vigorous activities or exercise after age 40. Exercise within the physiological limits of the individual.
Talking about greenhouse management methods for treatment, he advises –
1. Painkillers or injections: In conservative methods, the doctor gives pain medication or injections into the knee joint. These injections can be platelet rich plasma where we take the patient’s own blood, centrifuge and the growth factor rich plasma part will help the cartilage to grow back and also reduce the rate of progression of joint disease.
2. Physical therapy exercises: This helps keep the joints mobile. Despite arthritis, we want our joints to continue to move because joint flexibility and mobility are important. So, with physical therapy, the patient gets to exercise and there are current therapies that help with pain. So this is another treatment modality.
3. Steroid injections: In addition to pain medication and physical therapy, there are steroid injections that are not commonly performed. Mainly due to the more anti-inflammatory effect and the relatively short duration of pain relief for the patient. It only lasts a few weeks to a few months, so it’s not commonly practiced.
As for surgical management methods, he lists –
1. Osteotomy: In this method, the doctor will replace the joint or surgically cut the bone to reduce the deformation of the bone. These surgeries reduce the rate of wear and tear. These are called osteotomies.
2. Alternative surgery: In replacement surgery, it can be partial or total replacement of the joint in the knee. For example, doctors can only replace part of the affected knee. If it is an entire joint, the entire joint can be replaced.
