Chicago Tribune
Dr. Sunil John has watched many of his patients with osteoarthritis improve with some simple lifestyle changes like exercising more, eating less and taking over-the-counter pain medications.
That might be a surprise to people who think taking it easy is a better answer to the pain and stiffness in their joints that accompany osteoarthritis –– sometimes known as degenerative joint disease. But exercise and weight loss can be the best medicine for arthritis pain management, according to rheumatologists, who deal with joint, soft tissue and connective tissue problems.
"It's important to be active, and weight reduction is very important because, obviously, with more weight there's more stress on the joints," said John, a rheumatologist at Advocate Medical Group who is affiliated with Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest. "It improves the activities of daily living."
John said physical therapy tailored to the specific joint problem can help ease pain and increase range of motion. He also recommends a low-impact exercise like swimming, which does not put pressure on joints and increases blood flow to ligaments, muscles and tendons. Heat therapy also can help, he said.
In addition to over-the-counter pain relievers, some research has shown that glucosamine medication and chondroitin sulfate, a dietary supplement, may slow the progression of cartilage loss. Some doctors also give cortisone shots to help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.
Dr. Monica Aloman said she often shows her osteoarthritis patients simple stretching exercises for the thigh, neck, fingers and shoulder rotator cuffs, and refers them for physical therapy.
Aloman, a rheumatologist who works at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, said she cautions patients about weight-bearing impact exercises that could "further aggravate the cartilage destruction."
"Physical therapy is the mainstay of improving symptoms in the long term, but basically there is no (cure) for this," Aloman said.
Several area hospitals offer seminars on osteoarthritis, which affects roughly 27 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advocate Christ Medical Center held a seminar in September on osteoarthritis therapy and medication, and Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet held a program on rheumatoid arthritis –– a chronic inflammatory condition that affects about 1.3 million Americans –– this month. The Arthritis Foundation also sponsors lectures on arthritis and has a "Life Improvement Series," which includes aquatic therapy, exercise and self-help programs to increase mobility and reduce pain and stiffness.
Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects joints, though the disease also can attack many other organs and sometimes also features high fevers and fatigue. Certain medications can slow progression of the disease and prevent joint deformities, and physical and occupational therapy are also effective rheumatoid arthritis treatments, experts said.
"Osteoarthritis is a localized problem you can get with aging or when you overuse your joints like avid sports people do. ... In other words, a mechanical problem," John said. "Rheumatoid is an autoimmune disease with an overactive immune response or an immune response not working as it should."
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often are prescribed disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, or DMARDs, which are immunosuppressants that help reduce inflammation and slow disease progression, as well as over-the-counter and prescription pain medications, and calcium and vitamin D to prevent bone loss.
Aloman said inflamed finger joints should be splinted and recommends ultrasound therapy, which uses high-energy sound waves to ease the pain of affected areas.
Before deciding on a treatment regimen for arthritis patients, rheumatologists said, the type of arthritis must be determined.
Aloman said patients with osteoarthritis find their pain aggravated by activity and weight-bearing exercise but relieved with rest, whereas those with rheumatoid arthritis often have high fevers and unexplained fatigue, prolonged morning stiffness and swelling of the hands and fingers. She said rheumatoid arthritis affects mainly women who are older than 40, though it also may strike men.
That might be a surprise to people who think taking it easy is a better answer to the pain and stiffness in their joints that accompany osteoarthritis –– sometimes known as degenerative joint disease. But exercise and weight loss can be the best medicine for arthritis pain management, according to rheumatologists, who deal with joint, soft tissue and connective tissue problems.
"It's important to be active, and weight reduction is very important because, obviously, with more weight there's more stress on the joints," said John, a rheumatologist at Advocate Medical Group who is affiliated with Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest. "It improves the activities of daily living."
John said physical therapy tailored to the specific joint problem can help ease pain and increase range of motion. He also recommends a low-impact exercise like swimming, which does not put pressure on joints and increases blood flow to ligaments, muscles and tendons. Heat therapy also can help, he said.
In addition to over-the-counter pain relievers, some research has shown that glucosamine medication and chondroitin sulfate, a dietary supplement, may slow the progression of cartilage loss. Some doctors also give cortisone shots to help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.
Dr. Monica Aloman said she often shows her osteoarthritis patients simple stretching exercises for the thigh, neck, fingers and shoulder rotator cuffs, and refers them for physical therapy.
Aloman, a rheumatologist who works at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, said she cautions patients about weight-bearing impact exercises that could "further aggravate the cartilage destruction."
"Physical therapy is the mainstay of improving symptoms in the long term, but basically there is no (cure) for this," Aloman said.
Several area hospitals offer seminars on osteoarthritis, which affects roughly 27 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advocate Christ Medical Center held a seminar in September on osteoarthritis therapy and medication, and Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet held a program on rheumatoid arthritis –– a chronic inflammatory condition that affects about 1.3 million Americans –– this month. The Arthritis Foundation also sponsors lectures on arthritis and has a "Life Improvement Series," which includes aquatic therapy, exercise and self-help programs to increase mobility and reduce pain and stiffness.
Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects joints, though the disease also can attack many other organs and sometimes also features high fevers and fatigue. Certain medications can slow progression of the disease and prevent joint deformities, and physical and occupational therapy are also effective rheumatoid arthritis treatments, experts said.
"Osteoarthritis is a localized problem you can get with aging or when you overuse your joints like avid sports people do. ... In other words, a mechanical problem," John said. "Rheumatoid is an autoimmune disease with an overactive immune response or an immune response not working as it should."
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often are prescribed disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, or DMARDs, which are immunosuppressants that help reduce inflammation and slow disease progression, as well as over-the-counter and prescription pain medications, and calcium and vitamin D to prevent bone loss.
Aloman said inflamed finger joints should be splinted and recommends ultrasound therapy, which uses high-energy sound waves to ease the pain of affected areas.
Before deciding on a treatment regimen for arthritis patients, rheumatologists said, the type of arthritis must be determined.
Aloman said patients with osteoarthritis find their pain aggravated by activity and weight-bearing exercise but relieved with rest, whereas those with rheumatoid arthritis often have high fevers and unexplained fatigue, prolonged morning stiffness and swelling of the hands and fingers. She said rheumatoid arthritis affects mainly women who are older than 40, though it also may strike men.
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