Overcoming Arthritis

by Molly M. Ginty

For Margie Fusco, the small stuff was the most maddening. "Arthritis made my fingers so stiff that I couldn’t pick a penny up off the floor," says Fusco, a 58-year-old magazine editor in Worthington, Ohio. "I couldn’t open a jar, peel a potato, fasten a necklace, or even work a zipper."

After 30 years of arthritis, Fusco’s hands were curled and incapacitated — until she had surgery to correct "trigger finger," the arthritic condition that had immobilized her joints.

"Though I may never have perfect movement or motion, surgery has made my life much easier," says Fusco, who can now type and use utensils with ease.

Fusco’s story proves that there is hope for the 46 million Americans — most of them women — whose joints are affected by arthritis.

During May, National Arthritis Month, health advocates are working to warn women about this potentially debilitating disease.

"That chronic ache in your knee, stab of pain when you move your shoulder, or stiffness in your hands or feet could be tell-tale signs that you’re developing arthritis," says Dr. John H. Klippel, M.D., president of the Atlanta-based Arthritis Foundation.

Women are twice as likely as men to have arthritis, and doubly likely to suffer disability as a result. More than 20 percent of women are afflicted at some point in their lives, which is why women of all ages need to take steps to protect their joints.

Though there are more than 100 forms of arthritis, the two main types that women need to be aware of are osteoarthritis (degenerative, site-specific cartilage breakdown) and rheumatoid arthritis (a systemic autoimmune condition involving inflammation of joint membranes).

Osteoarthritis, which afflicts 21 million Americans, occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears down. Usually striking one joint at a time and growing worse with age, it most commonly affects the hands, hips, knees, and spine and causes pain, tenderness, stiffness, swelling, and loss of flexibility.

Rheumatoid arthritis, which affects 2.1 million Americans, strikes when the white blood cells that normally fight infection attack the synovial membranes that line the joints. The synovium thickens, and its inflamed cells release enzymes that digest the joint’s bone tissue and cartilage. The results are swelling, inflammation, stiffness, and pain.

From medication to meditation to special ways of moving, there are simple steps you can take to fight these forms of arthritis before they even start. Every step you take to stop arthritis will help health advocates win a larger battle against this devastating disease.

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that by the year 2030, 67 million American adults will suffer from arthritis — a 50 percent increase from today’s prevalence.

Arthritis currently costs the U.S. economy $128 billion per year — and could cost us billions more if we don’t check its advance. "Progress in our fight against arthritis will require a much more serious investment in research," says Klippel. "We need to take action now to stop this disease from eroding both our bodies and our bank accounts"

Molly M. Ginty lives in New York. Her work has appeared in Ms., Marie Claire, and Redbook. Go to www.lutheranwomantoday.org to read past Health Wise columns.

Get Moving
Gentle exercises such as biking, swimming, and water aerobics can strengthen the muscles around the joints without straining them. Walking just 30 minutes a day — or for 10 minutes three times a day — is enough to ease joint pain and improve mobility.

Stay Stable
To protect your joints, spread their workload evenly, pushing or pulling with both arms instead of one. Favor your strongest muscles and largest joints, lifting boxes with bent legs and a straight back instead of using your arms. Sit and stand tall, as good posture keeps your weight distribution — and the stress on your joints — evenly balanced.

Slim Down
According to the Arthritis Foundation, losing 10 pounds if you’re overweight can relieve 40 pounds of pressure on the knees, and losing 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half.

Balance Effort and Ease
During strenuous activities, wear joint-protecting braces and supports. If one of your joints starts hurting, rest it for 12 to 24 hours. As it recovers, go easy when working it and remember to take 10-minute breaks every hour.

Go over the Counter
If you experience joint pain, treat it with over-thecounter acetaminophen (Tylenol), analgesic creams, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Advil or Motrin), if your doctor says you can.

Take Your Meds
If you are diagnosed with arthritis, set regular times to take your prescription medications, which may include analgesics for osteoarthritis, immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory drugs for rheumatoid arthritis, and painkillers for both conditions.

Explore Alternatives
Last year, a University of Maryland study found that regular meditation practice can reduce arthritis patients’ inflammation by 17 percent—and their psychological suffering by 35 percent. Other complementary treatments may include tai chi and yoga, acupuncture, and the dietary supplements chondroitin and glucosamine. Before spending much money on alternative treatments, however, consult your doctor. Many so-called "arthritis cures" only benefit the seller’s bank account.

Eat Right
Too much saturated fat may worsen joint inflammation, but vitamin C and folic acid (found in oranges and other citrus fruits) can slow the progression of arthritis.

Consider Surgery
If other remedies fail, talk to your doctor about surgery. For osteoarthritis, there is bone realignment, bone fusion, and debridement, in which loose pieces of bone and cartilage are removed from around the joint. For rheumatoid arthritis, there is tendon repair and joint lining removal. For both conditions, total joint replacement may be a choice.

Molly M. Ginty lives in New York. Her work has appeared in Ms., Marie Claire, Redbook, and Women’s eNews.

For more information: The Arthritis Foundation http://www.arthritis.org the worst storm.

Article published in Lutheran Woman Today, May 2008