Constant pain. Joint swelling. Stiffness. Fatigue.
6.1 million Australians, or 28% of our entire population, are currently living with the symptoms of arthritis and other related orthopaedic conditions. This effect their quality of life.
Symptoms such as pain, swelling and stiffness are very common and often debilitating.
The inability to walk, move or sleep without pain can impact almost every aspect of life.
For some people it may be the inability to play sport others may be unable to work or care for their family.
To stay fit and healthy we need to be able to move and exercise, loss of freedom of movement leads to a demise in general health and overall well being.
Arthritis Australia found that people with arthritis recorded significantly lower wellbeing scores compared to the general Australian population (mean score of 64.0 compared to 77.6). This research demonstrates the detrimental impact that arthritis has on the quality of life of Australians.
Arthritis becomes more common the older you get, at 75 yrs of age you have a 50% chance of suffering from the symptoms of arthritis. Because of this fact it is a common misconception that arthritis is a natural part of the ageing process.
However, this is not the case. While arthritis researchers still debate the underlying causes of osteoarthritis, what they all agree on, is that arthritis is not a natural part of ageing.
If arthritis isn’t a natural part of ageing then it shouldn’t be simply accepted with all the pain and disability that accompanies it.
But what can you do to reduce arthritic symptoms or minimise the impact of this disease on everyday life? How can you take action?
Dr. Benjamin Hewitt is an Orthopaedic Surgeon in Perth who specialises in treating arthritis of the knee, hip and shoulder. He uses state of the art treatments to return his patients to the best function their body can provide.
Dr Benjamin Hewitt works in concert with a variety of medical and non medical specialists to formulate an individual treatment programme that aims to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and improve your quality of life .
Often if caught early symptoms may be alleviated with a structured exercise programme, cartilage preserving agents or inflammation reducing injections.
In some cases surgery may be the answer. This may be key hole arthroscopy to reconstruct or clean up an arthritic joint. In other situations major joint replacement surgery may be an option to create a whole new customised pain free joint.
People are now living and better, why suffer the pain of arthritis and orthopaedic conditions any longer?
