Arthritis and Joint pain: Are you too old for your age?

Arthritis is the most common joint condition in the world.  It is the greatest cause of disability for people over the age of 20.  Symptoms of pain, swelling, and stiffness are common and appear to worsen as we age.  This can lead to impairment and decreased quality of life.

Some common risk factors for arthritis include age, gender (females more prevalent than males), previous joint trauma, and muscle weakness.

Arthritis is a "drying" of the cartilage on joints, similar to a sponge that has been left out on a counter for a number of days.  The cartilage itself has virtually no pain receptors, so the cartilage is not the pain generator.  However, if the cartilage becomes "dry" it will wear more quickly and expose bone underneath.  Small pieces of cartilage can also break off and float around in the joint causing increased synovial fluid production causing pain and swelling.

If you are feeling any type of joint pain; back, knees, hips, shoulders, neck, etc, you will likely be referred for Xrays.  Ironically, there is a substantial amount of evidence showing that severity of Xray findings and pain are not related.  In other words, you may have terrible looking Xrays and minimal to no joint pain, or you may have severe pain with no evidence on your Xray.  This is because the pain causing tissues rarely show up on Xray.

So when do you start developing arthritis?  The best answer is after skeletal maturity (between 20-25).  Of course we can do things that advance or slow the rate of cartilage degeneration in our body.  It seems contrary, but exercise is one of the best things we can do to maintain our cartilage and reduce arthritis in the future.  In saying that, if you are not using your joints the way they were meant to be used, it will wear on the cartilage and increase the likelihood that you will get arthritis at a younger age.  For example, running and aerobic activities are known to be good for decreasing the incidence of arthritis.  However, running with poor form may wear on your cartilage and cause you knee problems sooner rather than later.

With the prevalence of arthritic conditions increasing, it is important to do what you can at as young an age as you can to preserve the cartilage you have, and decrease the chances of arthritis in the future.  Use your joints wisely and they will be kind to you!