‘Don’t self-medicate for pain in your joints’

Persistent aching or swelling in the joints could indicate osteo-arthritis, say doctors, who suggest expert advice

October 11, 2014 02:24 am | Updated May 23, 2016 03:57 pm IST

If you have been suffering pain in your joints for over a week, you might be better off visiting a doctor rather than self-medicate, doctors say.

“Persistent aching or swelling in the joints could be a sign of osteo-arthritis. Rather than visit a doctor, many choose to buy painkillers over the counter to combat the pain, which in turn could damage their kidneys, liver and other organs,” Naveen Chowdary Tummala, consultant orthopaedic surgeon from Swaram Hospitals said, ahead of World Arthritis Day on October 12.

It is possible to have a good quality of life, even with arthritis, but constant monitoring by a doctor is needed. “Initial interventions could include medication, physiotherapy and some minimally invasive procedures. Even lifestyle changes like avoiding sitting on the floor, or using Indian toilets could help manage the pain. If none of these work, surgery is an option,” he said.

According to Vijay C. Bose, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, “In recent years, people in their 40s and 50s have also become prone to osteo-arthritis. In India, arthritis affects the knees more commonly than any other joints. Hence, knee replacements are common.”

“Joint replacement is generally recommended for people whose quality of life remains affected, even after simple interventions like medication and physiotherapy,” he said.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.