ARTHRITIS

“Ouch! My knees hurt”, “I can’t go to the gym, my joints hurt”; these are very common complaints among my clients. Worse still, most people who experience joint pain, stiffness and swelling assume it’s a minor injury that might go away without any medical attention, especially young people who have bought-into Myths like ‘Arthritis is an elderly persons disease’. If the prevalence among my clients and people I know is anything to go by, Arthritis is a very common condition which is not well understood.  

So, what is Arthritis and who does it affect? Arthritis is commonly used to refer to joint disease.  Research has identified more than 100 types of Arthritis; however the most common types are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.  

According to the Arthritis Foundation, Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. Unfortunately, I don't have exact Kenyan statistics but hopefully in the near future KEMRI, local hospitals and health stakeholders will push for research on conditions like Arthritis which have a very high prevalence in Kenya, which is undocumented. The condition is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older. Arthritis however affects people of all ages, gender and races.   

  

Arthritis symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Symptoms range from mild to severe, which results in chronic pain, limited ability to do daily activities and difficulty in walking, exercising and climb stairs.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, Arthritis can cause permanent joint changes. The changes may be visible, such as knobby finger joints, but often the damage can only be seen on X-ray. Some types of arthritis also affect the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys and skin as well as the joints. 

We'll discuss the different types of Arthritis on our next link. Until then, please consult your doctor if you've been experiencing persistent joint pain or swelling.

As always, remember, YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!!