Have you been living with a nagging joint pain that makes it difficult to climb stairs, jog or walk long distances? Have you accepted it as a way of life without seeking medical advice? A large number of people live with debilitating joint pains that restrict their lives and mobility. Many accept it as a normal part of ageing and do not even seek medical help. Joint pain may be due to multiple reasons. In an ageing person, joint pain is often due to osteoarthritis or age-related joint degradation; in younger people, an injury might often be the cause. Young sportspersons are extremely susceptible to injuries. Sometimes a small wear and tear of the ligaments or cartilages can become serious if it is ignored or corrective measures are not taken on time. “People have a lot of misconceptions on joint-related pain. Many believe that they are a trivial issue at a young age, and get self-corrected with age. This is a dangerous myth. Others (mainly the elderly) believe that there is no option but to live with a degenerated and decrepit joint,” said Dr. Indrajit Agrawal, HOD Rheumatology at Paras Hospital. He also stated that many times simple symptoms like pain in the fingers and toes may be warning signs of auto immune diseases (like Lupus and Reactive Arthritis). Every day he comes across a few patients who are suffering from Lupus - in various stages. “Many people live with extremely degenerated knees and still refuse to opt for a knee replacement procedure. Some, who are relatively younger, say in their 50s, believe that the procedure is only for the ‘extremely old’. These are misconceptions. Joint replacement procedures help improve the quality of life and productivity of a patient,” said Dr. Vivek Logani, Chief of Joint Replacement surgery. He added that many times people just stick with ‘rubs’ and physiotherapy for relieving their pains, rather than looking for a permanent cure. “Joint injuries should not be taken lightly. Joint replacements today are longer lasting and more effective and should not be considered as just a last resort solution,” said Dr. Deepak Thakur, Consultant, Joint Replacement surgery.
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