As a GP, one of the most common reasons patients come to see us is joint pain. During my GP training, I was lucky enough to have worked alongside a GP with a special interest in rheumatology. His passion for helping patients manage their arthritis has always stuck with me.
“It’s just a bit of arthritis — nothing to worry about”
You might have been told, “It’s just a bit of arthritis — nothing to worry about” or it’s a “bit of wear and tear”. Although this is true from a medical perspective, if you’re living with osteoarthritis (OA), you know it’s more than just a few aches and pains.
Not being able to walk, climb stairs, drive or even open a jam jar, without pain, should be taken seriously and not belittled. These everyday tasks can feel harder over time and really impact our patients wellbeing and overall health.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a really common condition that affects the joints, with 1 in 3 people over the age of 45 affected. It happens when the protective cartilage that cushions your joints wears down over time. Cartilage is a smooth, slippery tissue that allows your joints to move easily. When it breaks down, the bones in the joint start to rub together and sometimes you may have a crunching feeling.
The leading cause of this condition is something we can’t really do much about, ‘AGING’, hence it gets labelled as wear and tear. However, there are lots of things that also can influence developing OA, like joint injuries, genetics, being overweight, or repetitive strain on the joints.
Although there’s no cure, the good news is that there are ways to manage it through treatments like regular low-impact exercise, weight management, and pain relief medications that are simple measures. But for more significant symptoms, joint injections can help and improve the quality of life before considering a joint replacement.
Book a GP Appointment
Get your symptoms checked by booking an appointment to see Dr Jen! Visit our booking page.
