According to a study, about 15% of the Indian population is affected by arthritis. While most people face the problem, they neglect the condition and are not quick at taking any action to better the situation due to multiple reasons.

Arthritis is a serious condition which requires immediate attention and care. But what is arthritis?

Inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age. But arthritis is not limited only to old age. It can also happen to teenagers as young as 14 years old.

You can look out for symptoms like:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Redness
• Swelling
• Decreased range of motion

These are some indicators of arthritis, which hamper your daily life activities like walking, climbing stairs and driving.

Arthritis is not a condition that you develop immediately. It happens over a period of time due to various causes. Some of the most common causes of Arthritis are:

• Older age
• Women are more likely to develop it
• Obesity
• Previous joint injury
• Family history
• Autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis

The Dos & Don’ts Of Arthritis

Living with arthritis is difficult and hinders your everyday lives. Keep these tips in mind to avoid prevent arthritis.

Dos :

• Balanced diet & weight management
• Controlling conditions like diabetes, hypertension & obesity
• Regular exercises like walking, mild jogging or swimming.
• Shifting to an alternate form of exercises like static cycling, yoga and meditation
• Seeking medical help during acute flare-ups

Don’ts:

• Avoiding habits like smoking, drinking excessively
• Not having a balanced diet with no exercise
• Obesity and uncontrolled diabetes
• Strenuous activities pressurising the affected joints
• Jumping and high impact sports

Instant Pain Relief Measures

Arthritis pain is unavoidable and when it is soaring high, you look for instant relief to continue with your day. Here are some methods that will help you:

• Alternate hot and cold compresses
  Hot compress is the application of heat to your affected joints to relieve certain kinds of pain. On the other hand, ice is used for cold compress which helps to relieve pulled muscles and strains.
• Rest to the joint/splinting
  Give your joint some rest in case it aches after climbing stairs or playing sports.
• Pain killer medication
  After consulting your doctor, you can take some painkillers that will help you relax.
• Seeking medical help from your consultant
  If the condition is serious and the swelling does not reduce, it is best advised to consult your doctor.

Get Expert Advice To Treat Your Arthritis

At Zoi, we adopt a holistic approach which involves experienced surgeons, physiotherapists, dieticians and other specialists depending on the need of the patient. The treatment includes counselling and assessment of the severity and stage of arthritis. This is done by various modalities including blood tests, X-rays and scans. To ensure the effectivity of the treatment, it is tailored as per the stage of arthritis, age and needs of the patient.

There 2 types of treatments available at Zoi- treatments for early stages and late stages.

• Early stage treatments involve:
  Medical management with medication
  Physiotherapy
  Counselling
  Lifestyle changes and intraarticular injections
  Early surgical procedures include cartilage regrowth by injecting platelet-rich plasma or stem cells into the joint space
• Late stages treatment includes:
  High tibial osteotomy
  Unicondylar knee replacement or partial knee replacement
  Total knee replacement.

Zoi has one of the best teams of orthopedic surgeons with vast experience, backed by the latest equipment with computer navigation systems and latest modular theatres and excellent track record.