Editorial Vere Álvarez N
This rheumatic disease is classified as a serious illness that affects seven million people in our country. Wear and tear, especially in the knees and hips, are common.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that stiffens the joints, impairing mobility or causing intense pain, which can become unbearable, when performing an action. In other words, it is a Joint cartilage injury that affects people's quality of life. It is important to know how to differentiate between arthritis and osteoarthritis. The former is caused by inflammation, while the latter is synonymous with wear and tear. According to the Osteoarthritis Foundation International (OAFI) Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent and serious joint disease, affecting seven million people in Spain and the leading cause of permanent disability. This rheumatic condition has grown by 70% in the last 20 years and continues to rise.
Knee osteoarthritis, the most common
It should be noted that the 50% of permanent disability leaves caused by rheumatic diseases correspond to patients with osteoarthritis, in this case making the person unable to work due to the illness or injury, resulting in a disability. Depending on the affected area, osteoarthritis can be located in different parts of the body that are more susceptible to suffering from it. Although patients can suffer from it in the spine, both cervical and lumbar, it is in the hips (3-4%), hands (7-8%) and knees (13-14%) where it is most frequently found (data extracted from the latest EPISER study of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology).
Un deterioration of knee cartilage or hip It is more common in older people over 50, but is rare in younger people. The symptoms are virtually the same in both cases, ranging from pain and loss of function to stiffness and deformity. Genetic and environmental factors are important when discussing the origin of these types of pathologies, although injuries or abnormalities in the joint can also be considered causes.
When you suffer from knee osteoarthritis The pain intensifies when we try to get up after resting for a while, since this state is what makes the pain decrease, and especially after walking for a while or performing a physical activity. In the case of the hip, the pain is reflected in the groin area. Moving on to the legs, it can often be confused with a knee problem. By examining these areas, professionals determine the presence of this degenerative pathology by observing reduced mobility and noticeable wear.
Severe pain, a sign of treatment
As we well know, this degenerative disease has no cure, but its symptoms can be alleviated and improved. However, we wonder, when should osteoarthritis be treated? Our orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Pablo De Linares, explains that treatment should begin when osteoarthritis begins to hurt a lot: "We shouldn't wait to treat it until it's directly surgical; we should start treating it from the beginning so that surgery is necessary as late as possible, or even try to avoid it."Sometimes, it's not the joint itself that hurts, but rather the musculoskeletal and tendon systems surrounding it that are irritated by improper movement. Therefore, the role of a physical therapist is essential for treatment with exercises and to help improve the condition. "In cases where the problems develop into functional impotence or significant pain, surgery should be considered," adds De Linares.
At Dr. Mosqueira Clinic, we are here to help you if you suffer from osteoarthritis or other related problems. If you need more information, please do not hesitate to call us at 951 00 66 38.
Video produced by Javi Arán
