FIVE MYTHS ABOUT ARTHRITIS

FIVE MYTHS ABOUT ARTHRITIS
Myth:

Arthritis is an older person’s disease.

Truth:

Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases do not discriminate based on age.  Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, affecting more than 1.3 million Americans. RA most often begins between the fourth and sixth decades of life. However, RA can develop at any age.

Additionally, about one child in every 1,000 develops some type of juvenile arthritis. These disorders can affect children at any age, although rarely in the first six months of life. It is estimated that around 300,000 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with juvenile  idiopathic arthritis.

Myth:

Arthritis is an inevitable part of life, so you just have to deal with it.

Truth:

Aches and pains are an inevitable part of life. But, sometimes, pain in the joints, muscles or bones is severe or persists for more than a few days. At that point, you should see your physician and seek referral to a rheumatologist.

Living your life with prolonged stiffness and pain isn’t something you should deal with on your own. Rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals are trained to help you not only find a way to live with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, but many treatments offered by rheumatologists can even stop certain diseases and conditions in their tracks.

Myth:

Arthritis has less of an impact than other diseases.

Truth:

In the United States alone there are 46 million adults and 300,000 children with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.

Myth:

Any doctor can treat my arthritis.

Truth:

While primary care physicians are an important part of the multidisciplinary approach to treating any disease, you may need to see a rheumatologist, who is a physician who specialize in treating arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. If a person were to have a form of cancer, he or she would see an oncologist. If a child were to suffer from diabetes, he or she would be taken to an endocrinologist. Just as you would reach out to a specialist for these types of diseases, you should turn to rheumatologists as your lead physician to treat arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists will work with you and your primary care physician to ensure that you are receiving the best possible treatment.

Myth:

My weight has no impact on my arthritis.

Truth:

Some studies show that even a small amount of weight loss can help ease arthritis pain – particularly in the knees and hips. Treating rheumatic diseases is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Each condition requires a specific multidisciplinary treatment that may include diet, exercise, medication, or even behavioral changes.