Is arthritis avoidable?

What can you do to avoid arthritis? Or prevent it from getting any worse? Or, at least, minimise the associated pain? These are questions I’ve begun asking myself more frequently over the past decade or so. Minor creaks in my knees have become more painful in that time. And my fingers, particularly the base of my thumbs, are now starting to punish me for years of typing (poorly). More recently my shoulders have also joined my growing array of arthritic aches. 

For others it might be the feet and ankles, or the hips; perhaps even the lower back. Wherever it might be, it can be particularly debilitating and, in turn, even affect your mental health.

Arthritis  can affect so many areas, it makes answering the questions above difficult. And the number of different types of arthritis adds to that, the word being an umbrella term used to describe over 150 different conditions.

Under this umbrella you’ll find conditions like osteoarthritis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout and osteoporosis, to name a few.

Arthritis – a better definition?

Musculoskeletal Health Australia (MHA), an arthritis support organisation, believes there’s a better term. And the organisation’s own name provides a big clue. The term ‘musculoskeletal conditions’ is more accurate, they say, because those conditions affect the muscles, bones and/or joints. 

At the very least, the term serves to remind us that we might need to focus on more than just our joints when there’s pain. On the other hand, the word ‘arthritis’ provides a clue that the term ‘musculoskeletal conditions’ does not. ‘Arthritis’ has a Greek derivation. The first half of the word refers to ‘arthron’, which means ‘joint’. The second half, ‘itis’, means ‘inflammation’. 

And that’s a very important point, because regardless of the term we use to describe them, these are all autoimmune conditions. That means they occur due to a malfunctioning immune system. Instead of attacking germs or foreign bodies, the immune system targets joints and healthy tissue. It is this that causes the ongoing inflammation and pain.

Unfortunately, we don’t yet know exactly why this happens, but scientists suspect a combination of genes and environmental factors.

But can it be avoided and/or treated?

Fortunately, the answer is ‘yes’ in many cases. But in terms of treatment, it very much depends on the type and location of the condition. This is best dealt with by your GP or other health specialist.

In terms of prevention or lowering risk, MHA makes a number of recommendations. These include:

• maintain a healthy weight
• quit smoking
• stay active and exercise regularly
• look after your mental health
• get enough calcium and vitamin D
• protect your joints
• drink alcohol in moderation
• manage stress.

Each of these is explained in further detail on the MHA website here. In any case, a chat with your GP is recommended if you’ve been experiencing joint or muscle pain. Discussing your symptoms with your doctor could result in an early diagnosis, meaning treatment can start quickly. In turn, this reduces the risk of joint damage and other complications.

Do you suffer from arthritis? What areas are affected? Have you found any effective treatments? Let us know via the comments section below.

Also read: Is joint pain inevitable, or can we treat it?

Disclaimer: This article contains general information about health issues and is not advice. For health advice, consult your medical practitioner.